I never really knew that she could serve on presidential advisory boards like this.
She makes Obama wants to speak Spanish.
Como se llama? Bonita! Mi Casa Blanca es tu Casa Blanca!
In a hip-shaking move surely aimed to help his Hispanic outreach efforts, Barack Obama has appointed international pop star Shakira to his President's Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanics.
When she's not busy shaking her honest hips, Shakira (AKA Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll) has racked up some impressive education credentials over the years, according to the White House news release:
Ms. Mebarak Ripoll has been involved in a number of global educational efforts. She founded the Barefoot Foundation in 1995, which operates schools and educational projects in Colombia, South Africa, and Haiti, feeding and educating approximately 6,000 children. In 2010, she collaborated with the World Bank and the Barefoot Foundation to establish an initiative that distributes educational and developmental programs for children across Latin America. In 2008, Ms. Mebarak Ripoll served as the Honorary Chair of the Global Campaign for Education's Global Action Week. In 2005, she became a founding member of Latin America in Solidarity Action, a coalition of artists and business leaders seeking to promote integrated early childhood public policies. Ms. Mebarak Ripoll became a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund in 2003, where she promotes the expansion and improvement of comprehensive early childhood care and education across the world."I am grateful that these impressive individuals have chosen to dedicate their talents to serving the American people at this important time for our country," the prez says in the release. "I look forward to working with them in the months and years ahead."
Shakira will join Miami Dade College President Eduardo Padron, who chairs the commission.
Though Shakira is a new appointee, she's far from unfamiliar with President Obama. She performed at his inauguration in 2009. She also became involved in Arizona politics after bashing their immigration laws.
Obama also seems to have a fondness for hobnobbing with Latina pop stars. When he's not busy appointing Shakira to advisory boards, he's palling around with J.Lo and visiting Gloria Estefan's house.
