AmeriCorps VISTA members take a picture with Senior Advisor and Chair of the Council on Women and Girls Valerie Jarrett at the White House Science Fair, May 27, 2014.

The Council on Women and Girls, established in March 2009, establishes a coordinated federal response to issues that particularly impact the lives of women and girls, and ensures that federal programs and policies address and take into account the distinctive concerns of women and girls — including women of color and those with disabilities.

Over the past generation, the U.S. has made tremendous progress in eradicating barriers to women's success. A record number of women are attending college and graduate school. Women make up a growing share of our workforce, and more women are corporate executives and business owners than ever before, helping boost the U.S. economy and foster U.S. competitiveness around the world. Today, women are serving at the highest levels of all branches of our government.

Despite this progress, certain inequalities continue to persist for women and girls, including women and girls of color.

Women are significantly underrepresented in the science, engineering, and technology fields. Violence against women and girls remains a global epidemic. The challenge of ensuring equal educational opportunities for women and girls endures.

In November 2014, the Council on Women and Girls released a report, “Women and Girls of Color: Addressing Challenges and Expanding Opportunities.” As noted in the report, Valerie Jarrett, Senior Advisor and Chair of the Council on Women and Girls, and Tina Tchen, Executive Director, established an interagency working group comprised of policy staff from the White House and across federal agencies to focus on issues including education, economic security, health, criminal and juvenile justice, violence, and research and data collection.

The news and reports here focused on advancing equity and empowerment reflect the ongoing commitment of the Council on Women and Girls to ensure that opportunity is open to all.

News and Reports

• September 15, 2015: Release: White House Honors Young Women Empowering their Communities as Champions of Change
• September 14, 2015: Blog Post: Sharing Stories to Celebrate Young Women Empowering their Communities
• August 4, 2015: Fact Sheet: President Obama Announces New Commitments from Investors, Companies, Universities, and Cities to Advance Inclusive Entrepreneurship at First-Ever White House Demo Day
• July 16, 2015: Blog Post: Nominate a White House Champion of Change for Young Women Empowering Communities
• June 16, 2015: Blog Post: STEM - Strength through Diversity
• June 8, 2015: Blog Post: Prioritization Upgrade: Expanding Diversity in Our Technology Ecosystem Now
• January 16, 2015: Blog Post: Front and Center: Bringing Marginalized Girls into Focus in STEM and CTE Education
• November 13, 2014: Blog Post: Expanding Opportunity and Addressing Unique Challenges Facing Women and Girls of Color
• November 12, 2014: White House Report: Women and Girls of Color: Addressing Challenges and Expanding Opportunity
• September 17, 2014: Secretary Pritzker Says Increased Gender Diversity in Corporate Boardrooms Is Vital to Economic Success
• Rethinking Discipline
• Map: The Hidden Cost of Suspension: How can kids learn if they're not in school?

Recent Events

September 15, 2015: The White House Champions of Change: Young Women Empowering their Communities
The White House hosted a Champions of Change event honoring the work of young women who dedicated their efforts to empowering others in their communities.

July 31, 2015: Leadership and Policy Hackathon
The White House and the Department of Education host a youth leadership development and policy workshop for 100 youth leaders and staff.