Our First Lady is doing a great job, isn't she?

I admire Michelle Obama for a LOT of reasons, and here's the latest to add to the list:

'Emotional' Michelle Obama announces White House mentoring program for girls

By Robin Givhan
In her own version of "Pay It Forward," first lady Michelle Obama, who has often talked about the influence of role models in her life, announced a year-long mentoring program at the White House for area high school girls.

 

Monday afternoon, thirteen young women gathered around a polished wood table, austerely set with water glasses and blue folders, in the State Dining room for a get to know you conversation with the senior women from the White House staff who will serve as their mentors. That list includes a who's who of fancy titles and impressive resumes -- among them, senior advisor Valerie Jarrett, domestic policy advisor Melody Barnes, Obama's chief of staff Susan Sher and social secretary Desiree Rogers.

 

The germ of the idea was planted in March when Obama invited a star-studded array of women, ranging from entertainers to math geniuses, to fan out across the area and share their stories with students. At the end of the day, the women and a group of girls gathered at the White House for dinner. The first lady, in today's remarks, recalled that evening saying that "that was the best thing we've done so far." She wanted to replicate that experience on a larger scale.

 

The young women, who were selected by their principals, will not be traditional interns but will be tutored by their mentors on everything from careers and financial literacy to how to write a college essay and health and fitness.

 

Obama said she became interested in the power of mentoring as a corporate lawyer in Chicago. Her office, she said, was on the 47th floor of a downtown building and her windows faced south towards her old neighborhood. Kids who were just as smart and capable as she was missed out on opportunities and successes "by a hair," she said.

 

And then she got a bit verklempt. "We've got the most powerful seat in the land to be a bridge-builder," she told the girls, her eyes tearing and voice cracking. "And I'm so excited and touched and moved to have you all here.... I can get emotional."

 

A young men's program, rooted in the West Wing, will launch soon.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2009/11/02/emotional_michelle_obama_annou.html?wprss=44

   Sounds like a wonderful program.

I had a wonderful mentor when I was a young adult, I would not be the person I am today without her in my life.  I think all young people should have someone.

 Absolutely wonderful!! I sincerely hope that the girls chosen take full advantage of the opportunity And I hope the choice of participants are made based on need. Too often the children who DO GET mentors are the ones who already have a life FULL OF role models and opportunities, and I would love to see girls who DO NOT have those positive influences in their lives be able to get them through this program.

I like Mrs. Obama.

This is a fantastic idea and I agree, a wonderful program.

Thanks for posting this Martha, I may have missed it otherwise.

MarthaM:

And then she got a bit verklempt. "We've got the most powerful seat in the land to be a bridge-builder," she told the girls, her eyes tearing and voice cracking. "And I'm so excited and touched and moved to have you all here.... I can get emotional."

 

A young men's program, rooted in the West Wing, will launch soon.

SpicyChicken_SoCal:

The best couple we have had in the white house since ... I don't remember when.

 

Same here. Others have done something now and then that I've admired, but this couple just keeps impressing me over and over and over.

bbwdreamsicle:

DO NOT have those positive influences in their lives be able to get them

Who's fault is that? I suppose you think it's:

bbwdreamsicle:

the children who DO GET mentors are the ones who already have a life FULL OF role models and opportunities

 You really have a chip on your shoulder about people who have things that you don't have.

Like I said before I was poor and I also knew people who weren't poor. I never thought that they were any different then me. If they thought they were better then me I never noticed it, and if I did I couldn't care less. I was to busy with my own  life, working and trying to make something out of myself.
You might say I'm "middle class" now. You know life wasn't always fun and games for a lot of middle class families. Not all of them had everything handed to them while growing up. They worked hard to get where they are today.

homesweethome:

bbwdreamsicle:

DO NOT have those positive influences in their lives be able to get them

 

Who's fault is that? I suppose you think it's:

bbwdreamsicle:

the children who DO GET mentors are the ones who already have a life FULL OF role models and opportunities

 You really have a chip on your shoulder about people who have things that you don't have.

Like I said before I was poor and I also knew people who weren't poor. I never thought that they were any different then me. If they thought they were better then me I never noticed it, and if I did I couldn't care less. I was to busy with my own  life, working and trying to make something out of myself.
You might say I'm "middle class" now. You know life wasn't always fun and games for a lot of middle class families. Not all of them had everything handed to them while growing up. They worked hard to get where they are today.

 

 

 

You know HSH, I normally ignore your posts and your response above proves exactly why I do.  I pity bitter people like you.  You need to get over yourself and applaud others for helping those less fortunate.  Possibly you could start a program for some young kids in your area.

Martha, thank you so much for posting this.  Like Renee, I would have missed it also.

Pinky50:

I pity bitter people like you.

First of all I don't need or want your pity. Sounds to me a lot of  people like you want it though.

BTW, I do give to those who are less fortunate.

MarthaM:

SpicyChicken_SoCal:

The best couple we have had in the white house since ... I don't remember when.

Same here. Others have done something now and then that I've admired, but this couple just keeps impressing me over and over and over.

Yep, and presidents and first ladies that follow will have big shoes to fit into.  It will look bad if these types of things are done away with.  It starts from the ground up - and these young women (and young men later) will maybe mentor someone later in life and so on and so on.

This is probably a good idea, however, helping thirteen students out of the thousands (I don't have a figure) of students in the nation isn't a drop in the bucket. What about the ones who are getting "left behind".  Maybe reducing the cost of books and lunches, or adding a teacher here and there would benefit more students in the long run.

In my local area there is a campaign to help a high school football player and his family. The TV station has set up a bank account to handle the donations.  All I can think of is that there is more than one student deserving of help, more than one family on unemployment. I'm glad they are helping this one student (would they if he didn't play football) but lots of students are going without things they need. I know there is no answer to my dilemma.

Kudos to Michelle.

homesweethome:

 I never thought that they were any different then me. If they thought they were better then me I never noticed it

hsh, this is not about anybody being better than anybody else.  It's about those who are in a position to positively influence a young person's life doing the right thing.

SCGranny, I understand and agree with your point, but I think action at Michelle Obama's level will certainly inspire other people throughout the country to take action in their own communities.