Jill Biden Joins Brigitte Macron at Louis Vuitton Exhibit
Plus, The Carter Center announces a new journalism fellowship focusing on mental health and climate change.
First Lady Dr. Jill Biden and Madame Brigitte Macron, wife of France’s President Emmanuel Macron, split off from their spouses Saturday after the official welcome ceremony for the 80th anniversary of D-Day for lunch and a tour at the Foundation Louis Vuitton in Paris, France.
Dr. Biden and Madame Macron viewed American artist and World War II veteran Ellsworth Kelly’s art exhibit. Kelly is known for his hard-edge minimalist paintings and his use of color.
Madame Macron, who was in the same motorcade but a different car, was out first to greet Dr. Biden where they briefly chatted outside for a few minutes before heading inside. The two had lunch in a private room at the museum together before viewing the exhibit that still open to the public.
They were given a tour by Esteban Neveu—who told them about the history of the artist and his work. The women were looking at “Color Panels on a Large Wall,” which was blocks of single color paintings arranged as a collage on the wall, when Dr. Biden asked Madame Macron her favorite one.
“Blue,” she said, asking Dr. Biden hers.
“Blue,” Dr. Biden said.
They both laughed. Then they held hands as they walked to look at the next paintings.
The exhibit made up about half dozen rooms. They walked through all of them as part of the tour, listening to Neveu talk about the art.
“It has a lot of energy,” FLOTUS said of one painting that was shades of green.
They ended the tour in a room with a giant rainbow painting that took up most of the wall. Dr. Biden did not respond to questions from the press.
Carter Center Announces New Fellowship Focused on Mental Health and Climate Change
Applications are being accepted for a new fellowship within the 2024-2025 Rosalynn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism, The Carter Center announced Thursday. This fellow will report on the intersection of mental health and climate change among socioeconomically disadvantaged populations outside the United States.
Project proposals will be accepted through June 28, 2024. Projects can be in any format—digital, audio, video, print—and applicants are encouraged to think creatively within the topic area. Preference will be given to proposals that also focus on youth and young adults. Qualified applicants must be journalists with at least three years of reporting experience.
The online application for this special fellowship is available here. The deadline is 11:59 p.m. EDT on June 28. The awardee will be announced Aug. 1 on the Center's website and social media channels.
“This fellowship program is a fantastic and far-reaching legacy for its founder, former U.S. First Lady Rosalynn Carter, who passed away in November 2023. We’ve heard from so many alumni that they changed their career and elevated mental health reporting for them, their media outlets, and even their country,” said Carter Center Mental Health Program Director Eve Byrd in a news release. “More than ever, we need to improve the quality and reach of mental health reporting that serves to provide hope and spotlight solutions to address the mental health crisis faced across all populations.”
The selected fellow will join the company of more than 275 Rosalynn Carter fellows chosen over the past 28 years. The yearlong, nonresidential fellowships equip journalists in every medium with the resources to produce compelling and solutions-based projects on mental health and substance use issues. U.S. fellows are awarded a $10,000 stipend and receive intensive training on mental health reporting. They engage in networking opportunities with advisors and other fellows.
Fellows pursue a range of innovative journalism projects that tackle mental health and substance abuse challenges and seek to drive change in their communities while reducing stigma through factual storytelling.
Fellows are selected by a committee of current and former journalists, mental health experts, and the Fellowship Advisory Board, with an emphasis on diversity across ethnicity, geography, media, and the communities their projects will cover.
The general 2024-2025 U.S.-based fellowships will be announced on July 12, 2024. See other important dates and deadlines here.
The fellowship year begins in September, when new and outgoing fellows meet to discuss their proposed and completed projects.
Shedding light on underreported issues and driving change
Rosalynn Carter fellows undertake timely projects that have a significant impact on their communities regarding mental health and substance use issues. Past projects have contributed to changes in services and public policies. Examples include an investigation into problems with psychiatric housing in hospitals that eventually led to a state Supreme Court ruling; reporting that inspired policymakers in a major American city to allocate millions of dollars to address homelessness; and a project that exposed the complex and devastating mental health and substance use challenges faced by veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.
Fellowship projects have been nominated for the Pulitzer Prize, the highest award in American journalism. They also have earned Emmy Awards, a Peabody Award, the Edward R. Murrow Award, Signal Awards and awards from the Association of Health Care Journalists, Public Radio News Directors Inc., the American Psychiatric Association, Mental Health America, and the National Alliance for Mental Illness.
The Rosalynn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism are part of the Carter Center's Mental Health Program, which works around the world to improve access to mental health care and reduce stigma and discrimination against people with mental illnesses. A revised Journalism Resource Guide on Mental Health reporting is available so journalists can accurately cover stories that include mental health and substance use.
For more details on how to apply, read here and review the frequently asked questions. For inquiries not covered in the FAQs, please email carterfellows@cartercenter.org.
Calendar
June 14, 2024
In-Person and Virtual – Learned Lucy: First-Person Interpretation of Lucy Hayes with Sarah Hayden, Featuring a Lemonade Social
The National First Ladies Library & Museum will feature a first-person interpretation of First Lady Lucy Hayes at noon EDT on June 14, 2024, presented by Sarah Hayden. Lucy Hayes was nicknamed “Lemonade Lucy” after her time in the White House and is one of the many remarkable first ladies of the United States with a rich and complex history. Most well-known for her care of wounded infantry soldiers, the life of Lucy Webb Hayes is one also denoted by temperance, education, and advocacy.
Presented in-person at the National First Ladies Library & Museum as well as streamed online, the lecture will be followed by a “lemonade social.” For those joining us via Zoom, a Lucy Lemonade Recipe card will be sent to your email prior to the event so that you can make your own and toast to the beginning of summer. Read more
June 17, 2024
Virtual Event: Cooking With the First Ladies
The National First Ladies Library and Museum will present Sarah Morgan “Cooking with the First Ladies Featuring Edith Wilson” at 7 p.m. EDT on June 17, 2024. Join Sarah Morgan for a virtual feast exploring First Lady Edith Wilson’s life and recipes. In this virtual program, participants will uncover the culinary legacy of First Lady Edith Wilson. Read more
June 20, 2024
2024 Annual Martha Washington Lecture
The George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon will present a discussion from 7 to 8 p.m. EDT on June 20, 2024, on how the wife of the nation's first president, Martha Washington, truly defined the new role of first lady of the United States. Hear how she and other first ladies influenced American society, policy, diplomacy, and life, and how many of them broke barriers to make a mark on our country and, at times, the world.
This event features Diana B. Carlin, Anita B. McBride, and Nancy Kegan Smith, authors of the new book, Remember the First Ladies: The Legacies of America’s History-Making Women.
In-person tickets are $25 and include a reception with beer and wine and a book signing. Virtual tickets are $10 and the event can be watched in real-time or after the event. Read more
June 20, 2024
In-Person Event: Third Thursdays Night Out with the First Ladies
The National First Ladies Library & Museum will dive into what Abigail Fillmore, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Laura Bush all have in common—the fact they were all teachers! Participants will get an inside look into the newly opened 2024-25 featured exhibit, “Leaders in Literacy: First Ladies as Teachers, Educators, and Librarians” at its Third Thursdays Night Out with the First Ladies. Read more
June 20, 2024
In-Person: The White House Historical Association Hosts Trivia Night
The White House Historical Association will hold a free Trivia Night. People can play on teams of 2 to 6 players while enjoying complimentary pizza and soft drinks. Questions will cover a variety of topics in White House history, from presidents and first ladies to art and popular culture! Prizes will be awarded to the winning team.
Doors open at 1610 H St NW at 5:30 p.m. EDT; trivia will begin promptly at 6 p.m. EDT. Guests must register in advance. Read more
June 23, 2024
First Ladies Fine Dining: Mamie Eisenhower
Join author Andrew Och, aka “The First Ladies Man,” for an in-person, hands-on cooking class from 4 to 6 p.m. on Sunday June 23, 2024, presented by Cookology at Ballston Quarter in Arlington, Virginia.
Mamie Eisenhower's famous “Million Dollar Fudge” was the perfect dessert for any and every party she hosted. Not only did she throw magnificent parties, dinners and events as first lady, but she also enjoyed hosting parties on every military base that was their home for so many years as a military wife. Learn about and prepare some of Mrs. Eisenhower’s favorites in this class. Read more
July 10, 2024
Virtual Talk with a Curator: Discover Hidden Treasures from Our Archives
Discover the captivating stories behind America's First Ladies at the National First Ladies Library & Museum at a virtual talk with Director of Collections and Research Michelle Gullion from 7 to 8 p.m. EDT on July 10, 2024. Hidden treasures from the National First ladies Library & Museum’s archival storage that will be discussed offer exclusive insights into their preservation and conservation. These carefully preserved artifacts provide an intimate glimpse into the lives of extraordinary women who shaped history. Read more
July 12, 2024
Virtual Legacy Lecture: The Adventures of Louisa Catherine Adams
The National First Ladies Library & Museum presents the virtual program The Adventures of Louisa Catherine Adams from noon to 1 p.m. on July 12, 2024. Here, the audience meets Louisa Catherine Adams on March 4th, 1825, the morning of John Quincy Adams’ inauguration as the sixth president of the United States. In a rare moment of solitude, Louisa reflects on the events of her tumultuous life in the public eye. From her childhood in England and France, to her adventures as the wife of an American diplomat in Europe—where she charmed heads of state from Berlin to St. Petersburg—Louisa’s memories provide a glimpse into international politics during the Age of Revolutions. Read more
July 14, 2024
First Ladies Fine Dining: Mary Lincoln
Join author Andrew Och, aka “The First Ladies Man,” for an in-person, hands-on cooking class and historical discussion from 4 to 6 p.m. EDT on Sunday July 14, 2024, presented by Cookology at Ballston Quarter in Arlington, Virginia.
Mary Lincoln once wrote that Abraham Lincoln wasn’t the best looking guy in town, but he’s the one who will be president someday. She had her eyes set on the White House from a young age being raised by her politically active father in Lexington, Kentucky. Once married, she designed the entire first floor of their Springfield, Illinois, home to cater to entertaining and campaigning for political office. Come out and learn more about this intriguing first lady and the dishes she served to help him become president of the United States. Read more
July 18, 2024
In-Person Event: Third Thursdays Night Out with the First Ladies
The National First Ladies Library & Museum will dive into what Abigail Fillmore, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Laura Bush all have in common—the fact they were all teachers! Participants will get an inside look into the newly opened 2024-25 featured exhibit, “Leaders in Literacy: First Ladies as Teachers, Educators, and Librarians” at its Third Thursdays Night Out with the First Ladies. For July Third Thursday, the evening will include a discussion about the educational efforts and occupations of Caroline Harrison and Helen Taft. Read more
July 20, 2024
The Eleanor Roosevelt Center Announces Kids Book Festival
The Eleanor Roosevelt Center at Val-Kill, in partnership with the National Park Service and Oblong Books, will host the first annual Eleanor Roosevelt Kids Book Festival from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on July 20 at the historic Val-Kill site in Hyde Park, New York. The free event aims to bring together authors, educators, families, and community members for a day of learning, exploration, and fun. Read more
Submit calendar items, announcements and press releases to East Wing Magazine at jtaylor@eastwingmagazine.com.