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First Lady Michelle Obama Addresses the National Partnership for Women and Families

June 10, 2011 at 5:15 PM ET by Tina Tchen
Summary: 
The First Lady speaks at the 40th anniversary gala for the National Partnership for Women and Families about the Administration’s commitment to women and children, and the Partnership’s many accomplishments.

Yesterday, the First Lady was the keynote speaker at the 40th anniversary gala for the National Partnership for Women and Families, where she spoke about the Administration’s commitment to women and children, and the Partnership’s many accomplishments.
 

First Lady Michelle Obama speaks at the National Partnership for Women & Families

First Lady Michelle Obama speaks at the 40th anniversary of the National Partnership for Women & Families at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C., June 9, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)

As the First Lady said, thanks to the work of the National Partnership for Women and Families the “landscape of this nation has been fundamentally changed for the better: our workplaces are more family-friendly, women and girls do have more opportunities, and many discriminatory practices have been completely abolished.”

We know these are victories for all Americans.  That is why since day one, this Administration has been fighting for women and families.  In her remarks, the First Lady highlighted how the Affordable Care Act, the changes to earned income and child tax credits, and the nomination of Supreme Court Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan have advanced the ideals the National Partnership, the Administration, and advocates across our country have been fighting for.

Yet, there is still more work to be done.  In order to continue making progress, the First Lady also spoke about the need to mentor future leaders.  She said, “if we truly want to keep moving forward, our focus must not only be on the next set of issues, but on the next set of leaders, as well.  And it’s our responsibility to engage and inspire that next generation.  It’s our responsibility to reach back and keep pulling up those promising young leaders.”

Read the full remarks

Tina Tchen is Assistant to the President, Chief of Staff to the First Lady and Executive Director of the White House Council on Women and Girls.  Ms. Tchen most recently served as Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of the Office of Public Engagement.