Michelle Obama Heads Home to Chicago to Address Youth Violence
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Alex Wong/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) — In what may be her most comprehensive remarks on gun violence to date, the first lady is expected to deliver a deeply personal speech on Wednesday about what can be done to halt the youth violence epidemic in her home town.
Visiting Chicago, Michelle Obama will speak to local business and community leaders as a mother and a Chicagoan about how to create opportunities for youth to achieve their full potential.
Mrs. Obama will speak at a luncheon hosted by Mayor Rahm Emanuel, where she will urge Chicago’s business leaders to invest in expanded opportunities for youth across Chicago.
The speech comes two months after the first lady attended the funeral for slain Chicago teen Hadiya Pendleton.
“She did everything she was supposed to do. She was standing out in a park with her friends in a neighborhood blocks away from where my kids grew up, where our house is, and she was caught in the line of fire. I just don’t want to keep disappointing our kids in this country. I want them to know that we put them first,” Mrs. Obama later told ABC News’ Robin Roberts.
Following her remarks at the “Joint Luncheon Meeting: Working Together to Address Youth Violence in Chicago,” the first lady will meet with a small group of students and counselors at Harper High School to hear firsthand about their experiences.
The first lady’s speech comes during a critical week, as the Senate is expected to debate the president’s gun-control agenda.
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