Chitimacha fifth-graders help harvest DC garden

First Lady Michelle Obama welcomed students from across the country to harvest the White House Kitchen Garden.
Chitimacha Tribal School fifth graders Ally Burgess and Kati Parro were among the attendees in the “Let’s Move! Outside” initiative.
Following the harvest, Obama and participants prepared a fresh, healthy meal with ingredients straight from the garden.
To help her with her final harvest, Obama invited children that currently participate in “Let’s Move!” programs. These programs were launched in collaboration with federal agencies, businesses, and non-profits to mobilize every sector to help kids and families lead healthier lives. In addition, Obama was joined in the garden by students from Bancroft Elementary School and Harriet Tubman Elementary School who regularly help in the White House Kitchen Garden.
The Chitimacha Tribe was selected as part of the First Lady’s “Let Go! Outside” initiative through the Department of the Interior. Secretary Sally Jewell, who visited Chitimacha this summer, saw the tribe’s programs involving youth during Chtimacha’s Youth Conservation Corps-Summer Youth Program.
Burgess and Parro were selected because of their stellar participation in the tribal recreation program, where they have shown their commitment to moving and leading an active, healthy lifestyle.
“Let’s Move! Outside” was created to get kids and families to take advantage of America’s great outdoors-which abound in every city, town and community.
Also helping the First Lady in the garden were:
—Sesame Street’s Elmo and Rosita
—Donna Martin, RDN, Director, Burke County School Nutrition Program, and President-elect of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
—Kjell Lindgren, NASA Astronaut
—Al Roker, The TODAY Show
—Cathy Burns, President, Produce Marketing Association
—Alonzo Mourning, Seven-time NBA All-Star and Member of the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition
—Ashanti, Grammy Award Winning, Multi-Platinum Singer/Songwriter and Actress
—Will Allen, Farmer, Founder and CEO of Growing Power
—José Andrés, Chef & Entrepreneur
—Sam Kass, Acre Venture Partners and Founder of Trove
—Bill Yosses, Founder, Kitchen Garden Laboratory.