Girls Inc. members meet first lady

LYNN – Two members of Girls Incorporated of Lynn met with First Lady Michelle Obama and her staff members to discuss healthy girls and their communities as part of Girls Rights Week last month in Washington, D.C.Stephanie Hardy, a Girls Inc. National Scholar, and Ivanna Solano, who was chosen as the Strong, Smart and Bold Young Woman in the 15-18 age group, were selected to inform policy makers in Washington, D.C. about issues and legislation vital to girls and their lives today.Girls Rights Week, a Girls Inc. program, is aimed at focusing on girls promoting positive spaces for physical activity in an effort to bring greater health and well being to their lives as well as to the members of their communities. Hardy said she was excited to be chosen for the opportunity.”I wanted to visit D.C. for a while because I want to apply to schools there,” she said. “I actually wasn’t aware that we had a meeting with the White House until last minute but I was definitely shocked.”Solano said when she found out she had been invited by the national office to attend the White House Mother’s Tea Party she was “ecstatic.””When I first came to the United States 10 years ago I never imagined I would have the honor of attending an event as such,” she said. “Having the opportunity to nationally represent the Girls Inc., that has done so much for me, was an honor because I was now representing girls from across the nation at the White House.”When Solano arrived at the White House she was able to take photographs before sitting in the dining room and chatting with others at the tea party. There were two empty seats, one for Obama and one for former First Lady Rosalynn Carter.”(Mrs. Carter) was very friendly and took the time to ask everyone at the table their names and the roles they played in the community,” Solano said. “But what was so special about her was when she decided to pass around the menu at the table and have everyone sign it for her so she could save it and remember us all. I deemed that to be very thoughtful of her. One of the other special moments was having the privilege of speaking to Mrs. Obama. She seemed so proud of me, and when speaking to me she stated, ‘As long as you continue to do what you’re doing, I’ll continue to do what I’m doing.'”Solano said following Obama’s entrance, she gave a speech about the importance of mother figures in everyone’s lives and she thanked her mother for all she’d done for her. The meeting with Obama’s Chief of Staff Susan Sher and her Public Policy Director Jocelyn Frye was held to discuss the Healthy Girls, Healthy Communities project, which correlates with Obama’s childhood obesity initiative, Let’s Move.As a part of the project, girls across the country mapped out their communities and highlighted the places possible to engage in physical activity, as well as four themes that were seen as barriers: cost; transportation; physical safety in regards to gangs, violence and homeless strangers; and emotional safety concerning girls not wanting to exercise for fear they’re being watched.”Each one of us could relate to at least one or more of the themes, so we could speak from our own personal experiences,” Hardy said. “The best part was feeling like our voices were heard – they were intrigued by us and we must have been there for over an hour. We also got a tour of the East Wing of the White House and saw the First Lady’s personal office.”Hardy said she is “truly grateful” for the opportunity and for everything Girls Inc. does for her.”This trip was important to me because I got to experience D.C. in so many ways and ultimately was able to represent not only girls from Lynn but across the country,” she said. “My favorite part would have to be bonding with the other scholars. From them I learned about what their lives were like and about their Girls Inc.’s because every one is different. I believe that every girl deserves a Girls Inc. in their lives so I want to encourage them to get involved.”Solano