It's all about the connect.
Twenty D.C.-area high school girls will discover just how far the right connections can take them as Michelle Obama and top White House staffers -- all female, and all from Chicago-- begin a first-ever first lady career mentoring program, according to the Chicago Tribune.
The hands-on program includes White House Senior Adviser Jarrett, Social Secretary Rogers, head of public liaisons Tina Tchen and first lady’s chief of staff Susan Sher and Obama.
"This is not just a nice lecture or community gathering," said Letitia Baldridge, a former top aide to Jacqueline Kennedy. "Mentoring for their careers, gosh, that's a big commitment."
The female mentees come from area high schools, the Girl Scouts and military families, including Gold Star families who have lost a loved one, said Katie McCormick Lelyveld, the first lady's spokeswoman, to the Tribune.
The chosen girls will visit the offices of their mentors and participate in group events. They’ll likely gain instruction on everything from career planning to college admissions to balancing work and motherhood.
The mentoring program dovetails nicely with Michelle Obama’s mission to set an example for America’s youth. Earlier this year she invited school children to the White House to help her plant a garden and she’s also hosted music events at the presidential mansion and promoted healthy eating on Sesame Street.
A similar program for young men is in the works. No word if that wing of the mentoring program will feature all Chicagoans, but they could do worse than Rahm Emanuel, David Axelrod, and Barack Obama.
