Word on the Hill: White House Promotes Girl Power

By Alex Gangitano

Posted October 11, 2016 at 2:17pm

Amid focus on a leaked video of Donald Trump making crass remarks about women, first lady Michelle Obama stood up for girls’ education rights on Tuesday.

She partnered with Glamour magazine’s Editor-in-Chief Cindi Leive to host an international Skype discussion on the challenges girls face in terms of access to education.

“Change happens when a father realizes the potential of his daughter. That’s when stereotypes change,” Obama said at the event.

“I’ve had to learn that my voice has value. And if I don’t use it, what’s the point of being in the room?” she said.

The first lady has been seen on the campaign trail for Hillary Clinton during this heated election season but found time to step away to mark the United Nation’s International Day of the Girl Child (marked every Oct. 11).

The event was part of the “Let Girls Learn” initiative, which President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama launched in March.

Jill Biden on schooling for girls

Dr. Jill Biden released an op-ed in Time magazine last week. “Every day, women and girls are finding incredible confidence and taking risks. When they change one mind, pretty soon, they have changed one tradition,” the second lady wrote.

Bernie campaigners write a book

“Rules for Revolutionaries” is a book written by two of Bernie Sanders’ senior campaign advisers — Becky Bond and Zack Exley. The duo, who led the Vermont senator’s presidential campaign efforts to recruit and engage volunteers, offer a behind-the-scenes look at how the campaign organized and activated supporters and volunteers.

The book will be released on Nov. 18, purposely after the election results are in.

Abdul-Jabbar shares his insight

The former basketball star and author Kareem Abdul-Jabbar will speak at a luncheon on Monday, Oct. 17, about his many successful books on African-American history. Following the 12:30 p.m. lunch at the National Press Club (529 14th St. NW), remarks will begin at 1 p.m. followed by a Q&A session at 2 p.m. Tickets are $38 for nonclub members.

Happening today…

It’s Yom Kippur. The Jewish holiday started at sundown yesterday and runs until nightfall this evening. It is considered the holiest day on the Jewish calendar and a time to repent for sins.