White House Week

President Barack Obama, with First Lady Michelle Obama, gets a hug from a mentee during a Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service event at Leckie Elementary School in Washington, D.C., Jan. 18, 2016. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

To honor the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Day of Service, President and Mrs. Obama participated in a community service project at Leckie Elementary School in Southwest Washington D.C. They were joined by their mentees in the White House Mentorship and Leadership Program, AmeriCorps members and students, parents and teachers at the school.

The President and First Lady helped construct moveable planters with grow lights, planted vegetables, and created labels to place in the planters, which will be part of a long-lasting “MLK Garden” at the school. They also assembled backpacks filled with books related to healthy eating and Dr. King's life story for all 530 Leckie students. Other students and mentees joined in physical fitness activities led by AmeriCorps members that demonstrated how play is used to help youth resolve conflicts and develop leadership skills.

The President and First Lady also addressed the US Conference of Mayors at the White House. Watch their remarks below.