The First Lady of the United States Melania Trump marked the first anniversary of her flagship youth campaign, "Be Best," Tuesday, at the White House Rose Garden. The occasion was attended by representatives from the business, political, as well as community segments.
Mrs. Trump also spoke of her plans of stepping up her initiatives into its second year. She talked about making another trip overseas as well. This is expected sometime in the fall and would be her second trip abroad just by herself.
In her speech during the event, Melania touched on her "concerns" as a "mother" and "first lady," centering on how the modern times has made it more difficult for "children" to "manage or express" their feelings and the "destructive" and risky behaviors that the young people of today are exhibiting in order to cope.
The First Lady's campaign has touched on such problems the youth are facing, including cyberbullying, the abuse of drugs, specifically opioid drugs, and problems arising from addiction, not in the least is suicide.
Melania spoke of the work she has done during the first year of her campaign, pointing out her trips across the nation "listening" and "learning" from affected groups as children and parents. This included consults with professionals in the field of medicine, education, technology, and even social media experts and stakeholders in the issue concerning the future of the American nation's "next generation."
Her work does not touch on engendering legislation to create changes in the "unhealthy" landscape the present generation is caught in. Rather, "Be Best" has focused on bringing the desired attention to and propel the discussion of the issues.
The FLOTUS' "Be Best" project has also pushed forward the many organizations which are already out there working on the same concerns.
In the course of her promoting her "Be Best" objectives, she has churned up the related figures: number of states visited, 15; countries visited, nine; roundtable discussions attended, 18; and foreign leaders met with, 30.
As to where she would be touring outside the country in promoting her "Be Best" objectives for the second year, the First Lady did not make any specific mention.
However, she promised that, in the time she has as "first lady of the United States," she would carry on furthering hers as well as other existing like-minded organizations' programs and goals that touch on youth well-being.
It was her specific goal to "continue speaking with" as well as "learning" from forerunners in the field of technology, to achieve greater awareness of "safe" and "positive" practices in the online arena. She also promised to further her drive against the "epidemic" of opioid addiction and the "stigma" attached to drug abuse.
Melania also shared her plans to go on making her trips, visiting children, and speaking with them about the "challenges" they meet daily. She has earmarked issues to focus on in the next year like concerns on "sexting," how to tell if online news is "fake," and how long is safe for young people to spend online.
Despite the negative comment made by journalist Soledad O'Brien, referring to "the biggest bully" present in the "White House," as well as comparisons being made with previous first ladies past projects, Melania expressed her excitement over the appointment of an ambassador to her "Be Best" project.
The First Lady shared that the United States Agency for International Development (USAid) recently designated Julie Cram as its representative to work with the FLOTUS' pet project. The USAid has encouraged partner organizations to do the same.
Other speakers at the function included the National Institutes of Health director, Dr. Francis Collins, and the Microsoft US Public Sector top executive, Toni Townes-Whitley.
Television anchor Eric Bolling, who has worked with the First Lady in her "Be Best" anti-drug abuse campaigns spoke sincerely of "Lady M's" work in promoting awareness of the serious problem of opioid abuse plaguing the youth.
Bolling's own son died of an accidental overdose after ingesting an opioid drug. He has worked with the FLOTUS, setting up events around the country, in order to bring to youngsters, like his late son, much needed information on the dangers of substance abuse.
He lauded the first lady, saying she has gone "one step further" than "many" previous first ladies of the nation who have made the lives of Americans "better." Bolling said today's First Lady had gone "a step further" by saving those lives.
He called Melania the "most important" and "accomplished" FLOTUS in the American "history."
Despite this, some have pointed out that the First Lady's "Be Best" campaign, however "well-intentioned," is "too broad" as well as "unfocused."
Kate Andersen Brower, who authored First Women: The Grace and Power of America's Modern First Ladies, added, in her an interview with CNN, that "Be Best" showed how "well" Melania connects with children.
It could do with some part of it being "drilled down" to, the author suggested, the issue of addiction and the mothers and children affected. That way, Brower shared, Melania's contribution would be more "successful" and not "get lost" in what the former referred to as "turbulence."
It was noted that, while President Donald Trump accompanied the First Lady during the event, he stayed in the background.
