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First Lady Michelle Mentors Washington Youth


I couldn't help be proud of the First Lady's mentoring efforts that not only include her own, but her inclusion of other successful women as well, to assist young women and girls on the journey to adulthood.   Last night more than twelve women came together to mentor and share their successes and challenges during a White House ceremony in honor of Women's History month.

Said First Lady Michelle:  "They found what they were put on this Earth to do, and they realized that it didn’t matter whether they got rich or famous doing it, whether they won any kind of award for it.  What mattered was that they were doing what they loved doing.  And that's key to you, young women.  You want to be good at stuff, but you’re good at stuff that you care about and you love.  So think about that as you move forward.  What mattered was that they were true to what was inside of them."

The First Lady also spent the day at Ballou High School speaking to youth while other mentors spent time at other DC schools including Eastern Senior High School where actor Hilary Swank; playwright and professor Anna Deveare Smith; Grammy Award-winning violinist Miri Ben-Ari; Olympic gold medalist and WNBA player Lisa Leslie presided; and H.D. Woodson Senior High School where actor Rashida Jones; Gen. Dana Born; Olympic gold medalist Dominique Dawes; Lifetime Networks Senior Vice President of Series Programming and Development Nina Lederman participated.  (See Woodson photos here.)

A fitting way to end Women's History Month and recognize the accomplishments of some of today's amazing women, while offering encouragement to future generations of female success stories.



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NOTE:  On a personal note, I have to acknowledge that Ledisi was put on the spot by the First Lady as she made mention of the star having a birthday this week.  Ledisi was also put on the spot earlier today as Jeff Johnson, moderator of today's National Urban League forum on the State of Black America, made her blush as he introduced the singer who posed a question for financial columnist Michelle Singletary, one of the forum's panelists.  Ledisi's Horoscope must have read:  "This week you will shine."

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