White House Correspondents Insider

Behind the scenes of the most powerful city in the world — Washington, D.C. — and those who cover it.

Obama and Biden Surprise Visit to Dog Tag Bakery

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On August 2, 2018, former President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden made a surprise visit to Dog Tag Bakery in Georgetown. The two grabbed lunch and delighted customers. This video captures some of the highlights and media coverage of their visit.

Dog Tag Bakery is an extension of the Dog Tag Inc. Fellowship Program, which combines education with hands-on experience to create a living business school, building a bridge to employment and helping veterans and military families find fulfillment in their professional and personal lives.

Volta Insider: White House Correspondents’ Garden Brunch 2017 Honors Military Veterans and a Free and Fair Press

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Rachel Greenberg interviews Mark Testoni, President & CEO of SAP NS2 | NS2 Serves. Photo courtesy Haddad Media.

In the latest episode of Volta Insider, Rachel Greenberg interviewed several prominent attendees of the 2017 White House Correspondents’ Garden Brunch. This year’s Garden Brunch was dedicated to honoring military veterans and their families and celebrating a free press.

Greenberg provides insight into the themes of the Garden Brunch talking to elected officials, media titans, and some of the leading champions for military veterans.

Senator Mark Warner had a message for young people saying, “I think it’s more important than ever for young people to be involved.  Because if young people tune out, all you do is turn the keys over to the political extremes on the left or the right.  And for a nation that’s about 20 trillion in debt, to leave that kind of debt to the millenials, to our kids would be a disaster.  That is why your voices need to be heard.”

Rep. Darrell Issa had creative advice for those interested in pursuing a career in politics, “My advice [to young, aspiring journalists or politicians] … is to do something else first.  Really, the breadth of talent of people that go straight into politics, straight into journalism, there’s plenty of them.  The outliers — the people that make a difference — are the people that come with something to offer.  And so  particularly in the case for politics, life experience, real understanding.  Whether it’s working in soup kitchens or working on wall street, try to make sure you bring something other than a desire to vote.

Greenberg also spoke with CNN’s Brian Stelter on the new administration’s galvanizing effect on young journalism students, “There are so many problems in media right now, there are so many attempts to tear down the press, to delegitimize the press.  But it also makes it a more interesting time to be part of the solution.  And I see a lot of students nowawayds more motivated to be a part of it.”

Other interviews include Graham Moore, Academy Award winning screenwriter and author, Art Bilger, founder of the non-profit WorkingNation, and Meghan Ogilvie, CEO of Dog Tag Inc.

Check out the latest episode of Volta Insider here:

http://voltainsider.com/2017/05/16/episode-19-white-house-correspondents-garden-brunch-2017/

WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENTS WEEKEND ANNUAL GARDEN BRUNCH

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Photo courtesy Haddad Media.

For those who missed the action this weekend, please take a look and get involved in one of the three important organizations.

Democracy Fund is a bipartisan nonprofit that invests in organizations working to ensure our political system delivers on its promise to the American people. Founded
by eBay creator Pierre Omidyar, Democracy Fund has already invested more than $50 million and is now stepping up in a big way to support a robust, free press. Democracy Fund and its partners at First Look Media announced $12 million in grants to support press freedom.

Find a way to participate:
http://www.democracyfund.org/

NS2 Serves is an independent, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization run by Mark Testoni, the President of SAP National Security Services, Inc. SAP NS2® to give back
to the community SAP serves by training and employing veterans in high-tech careers. As its signature initiative, NS2 Serves offers training and employment assistance to recent veterans of U.S. national security missions. The course is open to post-9/11 U.S. military service veterans and reservists (including disabled veterans) and Gold Star spouses. Full-time, paid participants are trained in world-class software solutions that support U.S. national security, leading to official SAP certifications, which are valuable in many career paths in the U.S. and worldwide.

Please pass this information onto veterans.
http://www.ns2serves.org/about/

Dog Tag Inc. Our friend Connie Milstein created Dog Tag Bakery to provide opportunities for veterans with disabilities, spouses, and caregivers by offering an education
through Georgetown University’s School of Continuing studies and experiential learning in our small business venture at Dog Tag Bakery in Georgetown at 3206 Grace Street NW. Please visit! Upon completion of the Dog Tag Inc. (DTI) program, transitioning veterans are business ready, competitive, and employable. Come and join us for tasty treats, or purchase a dog tag to honor the service of a family member or friend.

To donate, use this link:
http://www.dogtaginc.org/make-a-donation/

But, now we are hoping you will open your wallets, engage your business partners or reach out to your friends at educational institutions to spread the word.

The White House Correspondents weekend is an important weekend but you can make the good feeling last by participating.

You can watch highlights from the 2017 Garden Brunch here:

Thanks again to Connie Milstein who opened her home to us.

President George Washington appears at White House Correspondents’ Annual Garden Brunch

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Ian Kahn, who plays President George Washington, gave an impassioned speech celebrating a free press and the First Amendment at this year’s White House Correspondents’ Garden Brunch. Kahn presented Sergeant Major Sedrick Banks (Ret.), with a Visionary Award for his successes after recovering from severe combat injuries to owning his own small business. Banks was one of the first alums of veteran leadership initiative Dog Tag Bakery.

Kahn also said of the White House press corps and journalists who speak truth to power, “You are the front, you are fighting for liberty and for our freedoms. I think every day, ‘What would George Washington do?’ I think he would thank you. He would ask you to fight for your country.”

Kahn also appears in this season’s Billions series on Showtime.

For more photos from the 2017 #gardenbrunch click here.

Dog Tag Bakery Alum Sedrick Banks Receives Visionary Award at White House Correspondents Garden Brunch

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Retired Sgt. Maj. Sedrick Banks speaks at the 2017 Garden Brunch. Photo courtesy Haddad Media.

The White House Correspondents Weekend is in full swing as Washington insiders and Hollywood stars gather at Connie Milstein’s Georgetown home for the annual Garden Brunch. This year’s theme is supporting two pillars of democracy: veterans and their families, and a free and fair press. That’s why the hosts have awarded U.S. Army Sergeant Major Sedrick A. Banks (Retired), a Dog Tag Bakery fellow the Visionary Award for overcoming his combat injuries and creating a successful small business.

Mark Testoni talks hiring veterans with NS2 Serves at the 2017 Garden Brunch. Photo courtesy Haddad Media.

Mark Testoni, President of SAP National Security Services (NS2). Testoni founded NS2 Serves, a nonprofit that trains and employs veterans in high-tech careers and Ian Kahn who plays George Washington presented him with the award.

According to Testoni, “U.S. Army Sergeant Major Sedrick Banks embodies perseverance.  In 2010, Sergeant Major Banks survived a mortar attack while deployed in Iraq. Like so many, he was left with both visible and invisible wounds. Defying the odds, he joined Dog Tag Inc’s program in 2014 in the hopes of turning his entrepreneurial dreams into reality. Sergeant Major Banks launched the Genuine Life Institute – a motivational coaching program.”

Dog Tag Bakery Pays Tribute to Co-Founder Father Richard Curry, Second Line Celebration Parades to Georgetown Waterfront

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Dog Tag Bakery celebrated one of its founders, Father Rick Curry, on what would’ve been his 73rd birthday on Friday, March 18. Colleagues, friends, and family gathered at his beloved bakery to celebrate his life and his work on behalf of the disabled. His sister Denise, who is a member of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur Catholic order, spoke about Father Curry from the stage she had built to feature performances from disabled veterans. Her remarks detailed how her brother never let his disability stop him and how he spent his lifetime encouraging others to do the same.

Connie Milstein, co-founder along with Curry at Dog Tag Bakery, told the story of how they came together so quickly. “I’m creating a happy gathering place for veterans to learn to bake and learn how to become entrepreneurs to Georgetown University,” said Ximena Rozo, a Dog Tag fellow who spoke about the program and how Father Curry changed her life.

Meghan Ogilvie, the CEO of Dog Tag Bakery, and Jim Curry, Father Curry’s cousin, told stories about his great sense of humor and even greater determination to make life easy for the disabled. Guests included Blue Star Families Sheila Casey, birthday girl Kathy Roth-Douquet and her husband Col. Greg Douquet. Hilary Rosen, Betsy Fischer Martin, Polson and Sandy Kanneth, Holly Page, Jacquie Bloom, Philip Dufour.

Tammy Haddad was the MC and, after the program, led the crowd in a second line parade down Wisconsin Avenue to the waterfront to celebrate Father Curry’s life. The Friday night Georgetown crowd stopped to watch the jazz band lead the paraders, who were carrying red Dog Tag umbrellas.

Father Curry would’ve loved every minute of it. Stop by Dog Tag Bakery and try a veteran-made treat. You can learn more about Dog Tag Bakery here.

Here’s a clip from the Dog Tag Second Line Parade.