Michelle Obama has long advocated for the advancement of girls through her Girls Opportunity Alliance and Let Girls Learn initiatives. On Sunday, the former first lady announced a new investment of $1 million from the Girls Opportunity Alliance into 25 organizations in 15 countries. “It’s not only the right thing to do, but it’s the smart thing to do to ensure a brighter future for all of us,” Mrs. Obama said in a social media post. The Girls Opportunity Alliance, established in 2018 through the Obama Foundation supports organizations that educate, empower and advocate for the rights of adolescent girls around the world. Mrs. Obama’s Let Girls Learn initiative was established in 2015 while she served as first lady. The $1 million investment goes to selected organizations supporting girls by offering scholarships, mentorship, after-school programming and more. These organizations are in addition to the 10 Chicago-based organizations that received $500,000 in funding and organizational support to expand their programming and impact during the back-to-school season this year. Subscribe In a new video released today, Michelle Obama honored girls worldwide and the organizations who support them. “I’ve always believed that every girl holds a unique promise—a special way that she can change the lives of those around her, maybe even the world,” she said. Creating safe and supportive spaces for girls to thrive and achieve their full potential can help create a “spark for positive change,” said Valerie Jarrett, CEO of The Obama Foundation in a press release. Among the organizations that will receive donations from the Girls Opportunity Alliance are Girls First Initiative in Tanzania to help establish school-based leadership clubs in four secondary schools; Squash Dreamers in Jordan to provide a safe and consistent space where girls can learn, play, and build relationships; Haiti Adolescent Girls Network in Haiti to recruit and train community mentors and establish 10 adaptable safe spaces for weekly sessions on health, leadership, violence prevention, and financial literacy; the Asociación Soy Niña in Costa Rica to create safe spaces and provide mentorship and academic support to girls through its after-school clubs to help girls stay in school; and Hamro Palo in Nepal to create safe and supportive spaces for girls in the country’s Bardiya district. In addition to funding, leaders of these organizations join the Girls Opportunity Alliance Network, a community of more than 5,000 leaders around the world, which facilitates the exchange of ideas, information, and resources to enhance organizational capacity and sustainability. Subscribe Calendar Oct. 13, 2026 The White House Workers History Project Launch Event The White House Historical Association presents the launch of the White House Workers History Project on Oct. 13 from 6 to 8 p.m. local time at Decatur House in Washington, D.C., with an in-person program and reception to follow. The program will feature a conversation with former Executive Residence staff William Allman, Annie Brown and Cristeta Comerford. The White House Workers History Project (WHWHP) highlights the often-overlooked impact of White House staff from 1789 to the present. The project does not feature political staff who served in the East and West Wings over time; instead, it brings the lesser-known stories of non-partisan workers to the forefront, demonstrating how everyday people served the country and shaped the American story. Read more Oct. 15, 2026 Third Thursday: From the Kitchen to the Heartland The National First Ladies Library & Museum presents an in-person, look at the world of the White House kitchen from 6 to 8 p.m. local time on Oct. 15, 2026, as it explores the stories behind the menus and meals that helped shape presidential history. Discover how food has reflected changing tastes, celebrated milestone events, and offered a glimpse into the lives of America’s First Families through historic White House menus from the National First Ladies collection. Read more Oct. 17, 2026 Edith Bolling Wilson Birthday Celebration The Edith Bolling Wilson Birthplace Foundation & Museum will celebrate the 154th birthday of First Lady Edith Bolling Wilson with an afternoon and evening filled with history, celebration, and the unveiling of Phase I of the Bolling Home Restoration Project. Enjoy the dedication of the new Education Center. Discover the powerful story of Matilda Stepteau through the museum’s newest exhibit before raising a glass to celebrate Edith’s birthday at a memorable dinner across the street at the Bolling Wilson Hotel. Read more Subscribe Oct. 17, 2026 White House to Host Fall Garden Tours The expanded White House Beehive and newly installed helipad will be among the areas of the White House grounds visitors will experience at the upcoming 2026 Fall Garden Tours. The White House will welcome visitors on Saturday, October 17 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Sunday, October 18 from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Guests on the tour will experience the South Lawn, the Rose Garden, the White House Kitchen Garden, the expanded White House Beehive and the new helipad, according to a White House press release. Rich in history and tradition, the White House gardens provide guests with a unique glimpse into the grounds that have served as a backdrop throughout the nation’s 250 years of history, it said. The event is free and open to the public. A ticket is required for all attendees, including small children. The National Park Service will distribute free, timed tickets at a tent outside the White House Visitor Center each day of the tours beginning at 8:30 a.m. The White House Visitor Center is located at 1450 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20004, near the intersection of 15th Street and E Street Northwest. Tickets will be distributed—one ticket per person—on a first-come, first-served basis. Read more Oct. 25, 2026 Family and Politics: A Workshop by Braver Angels with the Eleanor Roosevelt Center The Eleanor Roosevelt Center at Val-Kill will hold its Family and Politics workshop from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. on October 25, 2026. The free event is in collaboration with Braver Angels, a volunteer-led, cross-partisan movement that brings together Americans to bridge the political divide, reduce stereotypes, and practice civil dialogue. The Family and Politics workshop teaches participants how to preserve family bonds while staying true to their values and political beliefs. Although the focus is on family relationships, these strategies are helpful with any loved one. With the holidays and election season coming up, it’s important to learn how to navigate difficult conversations with loved ones effectively. Through this workshop, you’ll gain insight into why family differences over politics are uniquely challenging, and learn strategies for handling political disagreements in a constructive way. Read more Oct. 28, 2026 In Pursuit: Eleanor Roosevelt with Allida Black and Jon Meacham What can Eleanor Roosevelt’s life and legacy teach us about leadership, citizenship, and the ongoing pursuit of a more perfect union? The Clinton Foundation presents on Wednesday, October 28 at noon, an in-person America250 conversation with Allida Black, the 2024 Lewis L. Gould Award winner, and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jon Meacham, moderated by Michael Cooper, executive director and executive vice president of the American Society of International Law. Drawing on Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton’s contribution to More Perfect’s “In Pursuit” essay series, which explores Roosevelt’s leadership, and Meacham’s recent book, “American Struggle: Democracy, Dissent, and the Pursuit of a More Perfect Union,” the discussion will explore Roosevelt’s enduring influence and the democratic values that continue to shape our nation. Read more Oct. 29, 2026 Adams Speaker Series: John and Abigail Adams The Adams Presidential Center in partnership with Revolutionary Spaces presents a conversation exploring the remarkable leadership and enduring contributions of John and Abigail Adams and their relevance to America today. Renowned historians and civic education leaders Colleen Shogan, PhD, and Kurt Graham, PhD, will come together at Boston’s historic Old South Meeting House for an insightful discussion of the Adams family’s leadership, civic values, and lasting impact on our constitutional democracy. Dr. Shogan will also introduce In Pursuit: Lessons of American Leadership , an America 250 project featuring essays on leadership lessons from presidents and first ladies, the Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, Pulitzer Prize-winning historians, military leaders, and other iconic Americans. She will share highlights from the essays focused on the extraordinary leadership of John and Abigail Adams, as well as John Quincy Adams and Louisa Catherine Adams, offering fresh perspectives on how their experiences and leadership lessons continue to resonate today. Read more Nov. 9, 2026 Reconcilable Differences The JFK Library will present on November 9, at 7 p.m. ET, author and historian Barbara Perry, co-chair of the Presidential Oral History Project at the University of Virginia’s Miller Center, to discuss her new book, Reconcilable Differences: The Unlikely Political Alliance of John F. Kennedy and Eleanor Roosevelt . Perry explores the remarkable partnership between two American icons who found common bonds on civil rights, women’s rights, and the Peace Corps. USA Today Washington Bureau Chief Susan Page will moderate. Read more Nov. 17, 2026 First Lady, Author and Mother: An Introduction to Julia Dent Grant Julia Dent Grant was known to many people in the 19th century as the wife of General and President Ulysses S. Grant, but she was significant in her own right. She traveled more than 10,000 miles during the Civil War visiting her husband on the battlefield while also caring for their four children. As first lady, Julia was a popular figure in Washington D.C., known for her interest in world affairs. Towards the end of her life she wrote an autobiography, becoming the first, first lady to write a published memoir about her life. In this program with Historian and Curator Nick Sacco, learn about one of the most important first ladies in our country’s history as part of the celebration of the 200th anniversary of her birth in 1826. This program is being offered as an online webinar. Read more Updated on October 12, 2026 Send calendar items, press releases and announcements to jtaylor@eastwingmagazine.com . Share East Wing Magazine is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. SubscribeRead More
Michelle Obama Announces $1 Million for Girls From Global Initiative
