I was inspired by President Obama's vision for America and all the promises that he laid out for our country, and this award really recognizes that he made tough choices over the last eight years to execute on that vision, to give people health care, to get serious about climate change and to reach out to international partners and really improve America's standing in the world -- and that takes political courage.

Jack Schlossberg

Categorized in : US News

Throughout his presidency, my grandfather made it clear that he alone could fix nothing; that he alone had no answers, he had the courage to plainly admit America’s shortcomings, to then lay out bold plans to address those problems and to ask his fellow Americans for help in solving them … he inspired a generation to enter public service and to ask what they could do for their country.

Jack Schlossberg

entertainment

I love America for the freedom and equality it promises all of its citizens, the battles it has fought and won in defense of those values, and the peace and prosperity we enjoy.

Jack Schlossberg

equality freedom love peace

On healthcare, climate change, nuclear disarmament, gun control and countless other issues, President Obama consistently made difficult choices and put the national interest over his own political interest to do what was right. All the while, he resisted the politics of cynicism in a system that too often encourages it.

Jack Schlossberg

climate-change politics gun change

Voters in 1960 elected the first Catholic president. In 2012, I voted to reelect the first African American president. Each was a vote for a man of principle and character, for a man who had proved himself capable and courageous and who would lead our country with a combination of dignity, compassion and toughness along a path of progress.

Jack Schlossberg

man progress path character

I do love a good salad, so Sweetgreen has been great. But my favorite Cambridge restaurant overall is Darwin's - that's the greatest restaurant of all time.

Jack Schlossberg

great good time love

We must not become perpetually distracted from the great challenges facing our country and the world.

Jack Schlossberg

great challenges country world

President Kennedy's life and death represent both what is possible in America, and all of the work left undone.

Jack Schlossberg

life-and-death work life death

The more government transparency, the better.

Jack Schlossberg

more better transparency government

Climate change threatens the future of life on this planet.

Jack Schlossberg

climate-change future change life

I love that America represents a beacon of hope and opportunity in a world of uncertainty.

Jack Schlossberg

hope opportunity love world

I love protein powder.

Jack Schlossberg

i-love powder protein love

I love making jokes on the Internet.

Jack Schlossberg

making jokes internet love

It's true what they say: Nothing tastes quite like the East River.

Jack Schlossberg

river they-say true nothing

Electing the first Catholic president, my grandfather, in 1960, did not mean that religious intolerance disappeared from our land.

Jack Schlossberg

land president grandfather mean

Obama has acted aggressively on the issue most important to my generation: climate change.

Jack Schlossberg

generation most climate-change change

Part of growing up is realizing the frustrating, heartbreaking truth that intense and sustained long-term effort is needed to effect change.

Jack Schlossberg

effort growing-up change truth

Electing the first African-American president was a tremendous accomplishment, but it hasn't erased racism.

Jack Schlossberg

first accomplishment racism president

Voting is great, but it's not an accomplishment. It's a responsibility.

Jack Schlossberg

great voting responsibility

Every year, at every level of government and in every corner of our nation, elected officials are confronted with difficult decisions. The right answers aren't always obvious, and the effects aren't always clear.

Jack Schlossberg

nation always difficult government

All too often our leaders shrink from their responsibilities and choose to do what is politically expedient.

Jack Schlossberg

choose too often our