The mission of I AM Michelle Obama.com is to increase the awareness of positive images and beliefs of women and girls by identifying with the “American Dream” as exemplified through the image and life of the First Lady to the 44th President of the United States, Michelle Obama. I AM Michelle Obama.com inspires women and girls to live a better life through:
• COMMUNITY SERVICE
• SELF-EMPOWERMENT
• PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
• POLITICAL AWARENESS

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I AM Michelle Obama...Michelle Obama is ME....I am educated and career oriented, I love my family and believe in the importance of a strong foundation, I am a best friend to many sisterfriends and I thank God for the strong bond between positive women, I respect myself and I respect others, I cry and I laugh but lately I rejoice in the image of a woman who exemplifies not only ME but my mother, grandmother, aunt and friends, I struggle yet I am strong, I have many dreams that I am determined to see to fruition, I have hope in a positive future, I am a woman of God who has faith the size of a mustard seed, I am an American woman who dreams the American Dream, not only for myself but, one day, for my children and their children...you see I too am Michelle Obama and Michelle Obama is ME!!

WHAT DOES THE LIFE OF MICHELLE OBAMA REPRESENT FOR YOU?

Linecia Gilmore, IAMO.com founder, has been featured as the Urbanite of the Week for Atlanta's eUrbanNetwork.com. Take a look at the article at http://eurbannetwork.weebly.com/featured-urbanite.html and continue to spread the word!

BE INSPIRED, INSPIRE and BE BLESSED!

Do you or someone you know have a skill for writing? Do you have a personal journal in which you write down your thoughts and ideas? Would you like to participate in a project that would represent women/girls and their thoughts about First Lady Michelle Obama?

IAMO.com would like to introduce an ESSAY WRITING PROJECT in which women and girls enter a one page essay (500 words or less) describing the statement "I Am Michelle Obama...Michelle Obama is Me". Describe how you represent the qualities and values that you see in Michelle Obama.

The essays will be judged by a panel of IAMO.com members and the winner of the essay project will win an "I Am Michelle Obama" t-shirt and will be featured on the website along with the winning essay! In addition, IAMO.com would like to publish the top essays for a future book!!

If you would like to participate or know someone who would like to participate please email Linecia Gilmore at lgilmore@iammichelleobama.com (include IAMO.com essay contest in the subject heading) for the project rules. The deadline for submission of essays is July 31, 2009.

GOOD LUCK and BE INSPIRED!!!

Kim Thomas, Founder of AfroPuffs and Ponytails, Inspiring African American Girls

Kim Thomas, founder of AfroPuffs and Ponytails (www.afropuffsandponytails.com) is an amazing work-at-home mother (teenage twin boys and a beautiful daughter) and entrepreneur who resides in Hampton Virginia. In addition to facilitating www.afropuffsandponytails.com, Kim assists individuals with website presence and promotion for achieving excellent search engine optimization. According to Kim, “My position in life affords me the opportunity to enjoy time with my children and a closer walk with God.”

When asked about her vision for creating and designing AfroPuffs and Ponytails, Kim states, “Often, I hear family and friends speak of their daughter's, sister's, or niece's achievements with great pride and joy. Be it academics, sports, or extracurricular activities, you can truly tell from the looks on their faces and the conviction in their voices they want to shout it to the world! I created Afro Puffs and Ponytails to recognize African American girls and their achievements. Positive publicity and promotion of accomplishments are rarely seen for our girls.”

Although, recognition of achievements may take place in the home, and sometimes in school, Afro Puffs and Ponytails serves as a centralized e-world for recognition. It is a national on-line outlet for proud parents, and a base for girls to learn and model positive steps toward success in school, college, and career endeavors. At a young age, seeing is believing and very inspirational.

African American college students, women of the military, professional businesswomen and entrepreneurs are featured with messages geared toward young African American girls. These African American women serve as role models to show the connection of starting early and building a strong foundation today for an easier transition for success tomorrow. Afro Puffs and Ponytails also provides a listing of girl clubs and organizations from all over the United States for parents to choose from.

If you have a daughter or a sister and you want to share with other parents and young girls the great story of her accomplishments, here is an opportunity to recognize her in a positive way. It is another chance to reinforce those good feelings of achievement and high self-esteem. Let her serve as an inspiration for her peers by sharing her story with Afro Puffs and Ponytails. African American Women can also support the efforts of Afro Puffs and Ponytails by sharing the story of their business or career, which can include a logo and link to their business website. Kim asks that stories include the steps taken to reach success along with personal advice for inspiring young African American Girls.

To support the inspiring efforts of Kim Thomas and learn more about AfroPuffs and Ponytails, please go to www.afropuffsandponytails.com.


If you would like to nominate an inspiring woman in your community please send an email to lgilmore@iammichelleobama.com

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I am thankful for the opportunity to have participated in the 2009 GEMS/JEWELS Health and Fitness Workshop with IAMO.com members Adriane Simmons and Kara Norman through their organizations G.E.M.S. (Girls Empowered by Morals and Standards) www.gemsgirl.com and JEWELS! www.jewelsgirl.com

Please remember to give back, our communities depend on us!!

If you have a non-profit organization or are planning a volunteer activity in your community and would like to advertise your request for volunteers in your local area please submit your requests to lgilmore@iammichelleobama.com.

I AM MICHELLE OBAMA.COM at For Sisters Only, Charlotte, North Carolina

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For your very own I AM MICHELLE OBAMA T-shirt go to the IAMO.com Online store at www.shop.iammichelleobama.com or click the T-SHIRTS tab at the top of the page and bring awareness to the MICHELLE OBAMA in YOU!!

If you would like to order shirts shown in the pictures above, please send an email to lgilmore@iammichelleobama.com. Great new colors will be added to the site shortly...thank you for your patience.

Respect ME, Love ME, Empower ME!

Thank you ALL for your continued support!! Please keep SPREADING THE WORD!!