Gershwin Prize | Be a Seed for Change

The Best Photos from the President’s Visit to Africa

President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, as well as daughters Sasha and Malia, just returned from their June 26 – July 3 visit to Senegal, South Africa, and Tanzania. And our photographers have chosen some of their favorite photos from the trip — capturing some incredible behind-the-scenes moments.

Click here to view a photo recap of the First Family’s trip.

We’re Listening to Businesses about the Health Care Law

As we implement the Affordable Care Act, we have and will continue to make changes as needed. In our ongoing discussions with businesses we have heard that you need the time to get this right. We are listening. So in response to your concerns, we are cutting red tape and giving businesses more time to comply

Earlier this year, legendary singer and songwriter Carole King was honored at the White House as the recipient of the 2013 Gershwin Prize for Popular song. King is the first woman to receive the award, which was created in 2007 by the Library of Congress to recognize “the profound and positive effect of popular music on the world’s culture”.

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Powering Africa

Nearly 70 percent of Africans lack access to electricity, and yesterday, President Obama visited the Ubungo Symbion Power Plant in Dar es Salaam to highlight a new initiative called Power Africa, which aims to double the number of people across the continent who have access to power.

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The White House, Washington

West Wing Week: “Justice for Everybody”

This week, the President continued his Jobs & Opportunity tour — highlighting bold new efforts in education and manufacturing in Baltimore. He gave the commencement address at Morehouse College, and hosted an array of guests here at the White House — including the President of Myanmar, eight immigration reform advocates and DREAMers, and Gershwin Prize winner Carol King and friends. And that was all before Thursday, when President Obama delivered a major counter-terrorism speech at the National Defense University.

Watch this week’s West Wing Week.

Infographic: Creating a Judicial Pool That Resembles the Nation It Serves

The Senate confirmed Sri Srinivasan to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit — but there’s more to do. President Obama’s nominees embody an unprecedented commitment to expanding the racial, gender, and experiential diversity of the men and women who enforce our laws and deliver justice.

See some of the White House Photo Office’s favorite images from events including the Easter Egg Roll and President Obama’s visit to the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum.

President Obama will travel to the Oklahoma City area to see firsthand the response to the devastating tornadoes and severe weather that have impacted the area on Sunday night and Monday. He will visit with affected families as well as thank first responders.

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