Declan Kidney described the get-together as an opportunity to "set some foundations ahead of what is going to be an important November for us".

BBC: Kidney announces training squad

And whether we're Democrats or Republicans, surely there's got to be some capacity for us to work together -- not agree on everything, but at least set aside small differences to get things done.

WHITEHOUSE: Presidential Press Conference

So I helped work with local churches in the region to -- and public school officials to get state funding for dropout prevention programs, and brought together African American and Latino leaders to help set up after-school programs -- because when we help keep kids off the street, when we give them a productive way to spend their time, then graduation rates go up.

WHITEHOUSE: Helping America Become a ��Grad Nation��