White House Issues Report on Expanding Opportunity and Addressing Challenges Facing Women and Girls of Color

On November 13, the White House Council on Women and Girls (CWG) released a report, Women and Girls of Color: Addressing Challenges and Expanding Opportunity. The Council is chaired by Valerie Jarrett. The report highlights the tremendous achievements women of color have made; it also examines the inequities and “distinct” challenges facing women of color and looks at efforts underway to close the gaps in educational outcomes, pay, career opportunity, and health disparities, among other areas.

Created by President Obama within his first two months of taking office, the CWG’s mandate is to “ensure that every agency, department and office in the federal government takes into account the needs and aspirations of women and girls in every aspect of their work.”

As part of its efforts to address the barriers and disparities that still exist for many Americans and many women and girls of color in particular, the Council is convening a Working Group on Challenges and Opportunities for Women and Girls of Color. The Working Group will include policy staff from the White House and across the federal agencies. It will also include experts, leaders, and advocates from outside the government to focus on such issues as education, economic security, health, criminal and juvenile justice, violence, and research and data collection.

Back to this issue’s table of contents.