Michelle Obama kick-starts mentoring program at White House

WASHINGTON - US First Lady Michelle Obama has launched a mentoring program, under which 20 high school girls will be mentored by top White House officials to help them in life skills.

Obama told the girls that she wanted to use her platform as first lady to “expand the mentoring role.”

“In every part of government, there are women who are hungry to help bring you guys up. I always wanted to be a bridge between kids like me and the possibilities that can propel them to greatness,” Politico quoted her, as saying.

Second Lady Jill Biden, White House advisor Valerie Jarrett, Social Secretary Desiree Rogers, and several members of the first lady’s staff and the senior staff in the West Wing will serve as mentors.

The 20 protégées who were chosen by principals at area high schools include young women from military families.

According to sources, the program is a spin-off of the Women of Excellence event that Obama hosted at the White House in March, where celebrities, including Alicia Keys and Sheryl Crow, fanned out to local high schools to speak to young girls.

A similar program for high school boys in which President Barack Obama will participate is expected to kick off soon, aides said.

The 12-month leadership program will include financial literacy training and exposure to different career paths, as well as possible field trips with the first lady, advisors said.

She told the girls that with their unique opportunity, there is responsibility too.

“We have some expectations from you as well, that when you get to this position, you do the same for someone else. And if we keep building in that way, holding one another up, there’s no telling what we can do.” (ANI)