Michelle Obama Will Visit NYC Next Week To Promote Higher Education

GREENWICH VILLAGE, NY — Former first lady Michelle Obama will visit New York City next week in one of her first public appearances since leaving the White House.

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More than 200 New York City high school students will join Obama in Manhattan for an event celebrating higher education on May 5. MTV will host the event, known as college signing day, at the Public Theater. This will be Obama's fourth year hosting a college signing day, which has been part of her broader initiative to encourage students to pursue opportunities after high school. Last year, Obama celebrated college signing day and higher education at an event at the Harlem Armory.

The idea behind Obama's initiative is to celebrate regular students pursuing higher education in the same way that college athletes are when they commit to a college or university

"If we want to truly lead the world again in terms of young people with a college degree, we should celebrate students going to college the same way we celebrate athletes and celebrities," Obama said in a statement last year. "Education should be that important for every single person in this country."

College signing days are a part of Obama's Reach Higher initiative, a program that started in the White House to make higher education more accessible. Obama has continued the program under Civic Nation, a nonprofit.

As in previous years, Obama will be joined by dozens of celebrities, athletes and big names at the Public Theater, including Michael B. Jordan, Keri Russell, Renee Elise Goldsberry and the former U.S. Congresswoman Gabby Giffords.

"College Signing Day celebrates high school seniors choosing to pursue higher education at a professional training program, a community college, or a four-year college or university and continues Mrs. Obama’s efforts to inspire young people to pursue their education past high school," organizers of the event said in a statement.

Obama's visit comes just one day after President Donald Trump planned visit to his hometown of NYC, his first trip home since taking office.

Image credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images News/Getty Images.