Remarks as Prepared for Delivery by Director Jennifer Klein at the 2023 Girls Leading Change Celebration

Good afternoon, everyone. Thank you for joining us here today as we celebrate International Day of the Girl.

I’m Jennifer Klein, and I have the honor and privilege of serving as Director of the White House Gender Policy Council.

President Biden created the Gender Policy Council in March 2021 to put women and girls at the heart of everything his Administration does.

And that is exactly what we are doing.

From equal access to education to ensuring that girls everywhere can live free from violence, empowering girls and young people is a top priority for this Administration.

We also know that girls are a powerful force in the fight for gender equity and equality.

Every year, the State Department recognizes the courage of incredible women from around the world. This year, after hosting the International Women of Courage Awards, the First Lady came to us with an idea—to recognize and celebrate the next generation of women leaders working to make change right here at home.

So today, in honor of International Day of the Girl, we’re recognizing 15 young leaders—Girls Leading Change—who are using their voices to make change and strengthen communities across the United States.

These young women were nominated by their communities—by their teachers, civic leaders, neighbors, and mentors.

Hailing from 13 different states, these 15 young leaders that you see in front of you are building a better future for us all by taking on some of our nation’s biggest challenges.

They’re registering their neighbors to vote and getting involved in local government.

They’re using their voices and their writing to educate, inform, and mobilize others.

They’re participating and catalyzing real change in their communities, from school boards to state capitols.

And they’re working on the cutting edge of science and technology—ushering in groundbreaking discoveries and embedding safety into new technology.

Earlier today, I had the honor of meeting with these young leaders. To speak with them is to be inspired—so I’m thrilled that you will have a chance to hear directly from them.

Before we turn to our Girls Leading Change honorees, I’d like to introduce a dear colleague and one of this Administration’s champions of gender equity and equality, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.