WHITE HOUSE and Women- Council on woman and girls

Weekly Women's Update
Welcome to the Council on Women and Girls Weekly Highlights!
A lot of exciting accomplishments for women were highlighted here at the White House recently, and across the world this past week. All  three Nobel Peace Prize winners were women from Africa and the Middle East, we were visited by female soccer and basketball all-stars, the First Lady's Lets' Move! program attempted to beat a Guiness World Record and the state arrival for the President and First Lady of South Korea was on Thursday.

The President continued to focus on getting Americans back to work. On Tuesday, October 11, President Obama met with the Council on Jobs and Competitiveness to discuss the security of our economy. Yesterday, as a part of South Korean President Lee Myung-bak's official state visit, President Obama and President Lee held a joint press conference in the East Room of the White House today taking questions from both the U.S. and Korean press on a number of issues including the recently passed landmark trade agreement between the two countries.

President Barack Obama and President Lee Myung-bak of the Republic of Korea participate in the State Arrival Ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House, Oct. 13, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

The Nobel Peace Prize winners, Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Leymah Gbowee of Liberia, and Tawakkul Karman of Yemen, are inspiring role models for young women everywhere. The chair of the White House Council on Women and Girls, Valerie Jarrett, congratulated these Women in a blog and shared President Obama’s statement of congratulations.
On Thursday October 6, Members of the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team and First Lady Michelle Obama took to the South Lawn for a Let's Move! soccer clinic that taught the kids soccer skills while highlighting the importance of physical activity. Nicole Barnhart, goalkeeper for the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team shared her experience and insight into achieving one's goals. Earlier in the day, President Barack Obama welcomed the Texas A&M University women’s basketball team to the White House to celebrate their 2011 NCAA championship, in the Rose Garden. The Texas A&M Women’s Head Coach, Gary Blair, reflected on his journey and the power of women in sports.
Check Out These Videos
Dr. Biden: October Is the Time for Each of Us to Consider the Role We Can Play in Combatting Breast CancerOn October 3, Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius, Jennifer Aniston, and Dr. Jill Biden toured a state-of-the-art breast health center in Northern Virginia for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The three met with committed health professionals as well as with women who shared personal stories about their battles with breast cancer. Nationwide Release Encourages Public to Join VA Culture Change

Nationwide Release Encourages Public to Join VA Culture ChangeThe number of women using The Department of Veterans Affairs has doubled in the past decade, and that increase is expected to continue into the next decade. The VA taking its internal culture-change message to the public with a new video about the vital role women play in the military and the importance of providing women Veterans with high quality health care.
Highlights

Celebrating Achievements in Domestic Violence AdvocacyYesterday, Lynn Rosenthal, White House Advisor on Violence Against Women traveled to Charleston, West Virginia to give the keynote address at the West Virginia Coalition Against Domestic Violence’s 30th anniversary celebration.

Creating Pathways to Opportunity for All Americans Over the last decade, the gap between the wealthiest and those with the least has grown considerably – since 1980, real median household income has grown four times faster for the top 10 percent of households than it has for middle-income households.Today, the White House released Creating Pathways to Opportunity, a report that highlights steps the Administration has taken to reverse these trends and create opportunity for all Americans

Steps to Support Small Business On Wednesday October 12, Valerie Jarrett attended a meeting of leaders from across federal agencies to discuss small business procurement. She had the chance to thank them for working tremendously hard to give small businesses, minority- and women-owned businesses, and service-disabled veterans new opportunities to compete for federal contracts.

Spielberg, Hanks and Winfrey Join Forces to Support Our TroopsTom Hanks, Oprah Winfrey and Steven Spielberg shared their voices with Joining Forces, the initiative started by First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden to bring attention to the unique needs and strength of America’s military families.

Michelle Obama leads a group of 400 local children on the South Lawn of the White House to help break the Guinness World Records title for the most people doing jumping jacks in a 24-hour period, Oct. 11, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)

California Mom Says Provisions in American Jobs Act Are "A Blessing"
Tamara Washington hopes Congress passes the American Jobs Act. The single mom from Torrance, California thinks others should be afforded the support she had when she needed help. Washington knows that from experience, because she benefitted from one of the programs that will be extended if the American Jobs Act is passed.

Texas Teacher Hopes Congress Passes the American Jobs Act So She Can Return to the Classroom Kimberly Russell was laid off in May of this year. She is hoping that Congress will pass the American Jobs Act to help teachers get back to work soon. She misses her students and wants to get back in the classroom.

Keeping Teachers like Mrs. Keene in the Classroom
Vice President Joe Biden visits Mrs. Keene's 5th grade classroom and takes questions from students, at Oakstead Elementary School in Land O' Lakes, Florida, October 4, 2011.

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