Girls Inc. Girls Attend White House Mother’s Day Tea

A Girls Inc. alumna and current Girls Inc. participant celebrated the exceptional women in their lives at the 2010 White House Mother’s Day Tea in Washington D.C., hosted by First Lady Michelle Obama. They were joined by the First Lady’s mother, former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, and President Eisenhower’s two granddaughters, among many other women and girls. The event was held to recognize the positive effect women and girls have on guiding families and communities.

Ivanna Solano, a member of Girls Inc. of Lynn and this year’s Strong, Smart, and Bold scholarship award winner, attended the tea with her mother, Edia Pujols. Ivanna was seated next to Mrs. Carter, with whom she had the opportunity to share her interests and activities.

“She was actually very interested in what I do here at Girls Inc.,” said Ivanna. “She was really impressed with all the workshops we have at Girls Inc.”

Ivanna also had the opportunity to meet Mrs. Obama.

“She said ‘As long as you keep doing what you’re doing, I’ll keep doing what I’m doing,’ and she smiled,” said Ivanna of Mrs. Obama.

Bianca Bailey, an alumna and former National Scholar who attended programming at Girls Inc. of Metro Dallas, brought her mother figure, Fredia Evans, to the tea and was inspired by the First Lady’s speech.

“She approached the podium and started to talk about the importance of mothers and female role models in our lives because some of us usually don’t have mothers all the time,” said Bianca. “I felt like that was a very powerful speech.”

Like Ivanna, Bianca also spoke with Mrs. Obama.

“I told her ‘You know, I just have to stand up and hug you, and just tell you how much we appreciate you becoming the Honorary National Chair for Girls Incorporated,’” said Bianca. “Just to see her in person and to feel her personality throughout the room was very exciting.”

For Bianca, Mrs. Obama is a role model because through everything, “she still stayed strong, smart, and bold.”

Ivanna and Bianca expressed that they felt lucky to have the opportunity to attend the tea and to celebrate and meet so many empowered women.

“It was just a wonderful experience,” said Ivanna.

“Anybody can do anything as long as you stay focused in life and you keep the right people around you—people like at Girls Inc.,” said Bianca.

Girls Inc. Girls Attend White House Mother’s Day Tea

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