When Reno homeowners Valerie and Paul Keller applied to receive some relief on their home loan by refinancing their mortgage last January, they never imagined the process would end like this.

“I can’t even describe what it was like,” Valerie said. “It didn’t even seem real. He shook my and hand and gave me a hug. He mingled with the neighbors, talked to each one of my grandchildren and the rest of our family – it was just amazing.”

This was the scene last Friday when President Barack Obama walked up the Keller’s driveway to shake their hands, meet their family and talk about helping more homeowners just like them across Nevada and the nation.

Chatting over their kitchen table, President Obama heard from the Kellers and how the Home Affordable Refinancing Program, or HARP, helped reduce the interest rate on their mortgage and save them roughly $250 a month.

An hour later, with Paul and Valerie by his side, President Obama gave a short address from the Keller’s driveway calling on Congress to pass legislation to extend programs like HARP and help families save money.

“If they started now, in a couple of weeks, in a month, they could make every homeowner in America who is underwater right now eligible to be able to refinance their homes – if they’re making their payments, if they’re responsible, if they’re doing the right thing. And think about all those families saving $3,000 on average a year – that’s a huge boost to our economy.” – President Obama

Valerie recognizes what the program could do in her community. “This program is really important, I’ve talked to a lot of my neighbors and they would all be helped by it.”

President Obama recently asked Congress to tackle a to-do list of five specific things it can do to grow the economy and create more jobs. At the top of the list, helping homeowners just like the Kellers.

“If Congress passes this, there will be a lot of people who will be able to save money, money that would go back into the economy. And like the President said, this would help businesses, too,” Valarie said. “I would like to see change. I would like to see Congress work together,” she added echoing the President’s sentiments.

"The most amazing thing, after he gave the speech he said, ‘We'll have a picture with just your family.’ So we have a family portrait with the President of the United States. It was definitely a historic event for us."

To learn more about HARP and other programs designed to help homeowners, visit MakingHomeAffordable.gov

Watch President Obama’s remarks from the Keller’s home in full.

Don't forget to make sure you and your friends take advantage of online voter registration here in Nevada.

This weekend we officially launched Asian Americans & Pacific Islanders for Obama with a great event in Nevada. Check out some of our favorite pictures from the event.

From moms to great-great grand-moms, we owe the mothers of Nevada our thanks and praise. Check out just some of the great moms and grandmoms we get to get to work with every day and who we have to thank for our staff.

Have a very Happy Mother's Day, Nevada.

When I was nine years old, I cast my first vote for President Bill Clinton. My mom took my little sister and I with her to cast her ballot and to this day I remember the little voting booths that were set up for kids.

Later that evening, we had a Super Bowl-like party, just me, my mom and my sister. We cheered and clapped for each state that was called for the president. It was so much fun, and that’s how I was introduced to politics, as this great party we can all participate in—all thanks to my mom.

Before China fell to the Communists, my grandfather moved his family to the Philippines where my mom was born. Growing up, my grandparents instilled in my mom and her siblings the value of hard work and education and, after nursing school, she got an opportunity to come to America.

She started in the small town of Hannibal, Missouri and eventually moved to our home here in Las Vegas.

When the other nurses and doctors complained about her English and her accent, she persevered and focused on her patients and helping her family. When she had to raise two kids on her own, my mom balanced her duties at work and at home with grace.

She attended every recital and tournament we had. She made sure that we ate dinner together as often as possible and that my sister and I always finished our homework. And, as a staunch Democrat and devout Catholic, my mom never struggled to amend any perceived differences between her faith and her political leanings.

My mother supports President Obama because he made sure my sister could stay on my mom’s health insurance until age 26 and because he made my student loans affordable.

My mother supports the president because he believes women can make their own decisions about their health and their families, and she supports our president because he genuinely cares about people and the AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander) community.

Progress and change will be made by those who show up, and my mom taught me early on that as serious and complicated as voting and politics can be sometimes, it can be fun. It's her story and the example she set that helped me get to where I am where I am today.

Sixteen years after I first cast a make-believe ballot for President Clinton, I’m working to get President Barack Obama re-elected because he has never stopped fighting for me and my family.

My mom understands what’s at stake in this election too, and it motivates her to volunteer in our office whenever she has time. She makes phone calls to other Nevadans and shares with them why she’s so committed to helping our president get re-elected.

So when my mom calls and you’re on the other end of the line, I hope you listen to her when she shares her story and asks you to get involved with the campaign. Because, in life as in politics, mothers truly know best.

Funny thing is, if you ask us, it looks like Matthew might be teaching Maya a thing or two. Great job out in Henderson, @mayahutch & Matthew.