On Tuesday, March 8, NCJW’s newly installed President Linda Slucker and I took the train to Washington, DC, to celebrate International Women’s Day at a reception hosted by the First Lady. This year is the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day and events took place in more than 100 countries across the world. Leading up to International Women’s Day 2011, the International Red Cross called on states and other entities “not to relent in their efforts to prevent rape and other forms of sexual violence that harm lives and dignity of countless women in conflict zones around the world every year.” Here in the United States, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton launched the “100 Women Initiative: Empowering Women and Girls through International Exchanges.”

At the White House, we met dozens of women from all parts of the country and from a variety of government and quasi-government agencies, including: the World Bank, the EPA, the State Department and many more. We reconnected with Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), who received the Social Action Award at our recent National Convention in Dallas, and with Tina Tchen, who heads the White House Council on Women and Girls and serves as Chief of Staff to the First Lady. I was able to speak directly to Mrs. Obama about NCJW Section projects, such as the Dallas Section’s award-winning program, Food + Fit = Fun, which goes along with the First Lady’s nationwide initiative emphasizing health, nutrition, and wellness.

The First Lady inspired us with her remarks about the role of women in changing the world, and also reminded us that “we have come a long way, ladies, and we are here to celebrate those accomplishments, but we need to get paid for them!” She added that “we continue our work to close the pay gap but this work is far from finished — change is hard and slow.” She noted that “our mothers and grandmothers have more often than not handed down to us the creative spark that they will never see but that we must carry forward.” Mrs. Obama then greeted the guests, paying particular attention to the children from Cambodia and other countries of the world who were gathered to shake her hand. 
 
As Linda and I were leaving the White House, we paid our respects to the portraits of Jackie Kennedy Onassis, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Hillary Clinton. We couldn’t resist having our photos taken alongside these powerful women, and we’ve shared one with you here.

On a final note, I hope you will all join Linda and me in Washington on April 7 for to make our voices heard for reproductive choices!  Click here for more details.