In her ongoing attempt to be not just the First Lady but America’s First Mom, Michelle Obama will bring together a star-studded cast on Wednesday to visit several Washington- area high schools to mark Women’s History Month and to promote the value of mentoring programs.
This event is similar to one that Obama held in Detroit last May.
The inspirational group that will come together on Wednesday — more than 20 women who are accomplished in a wide variety of fields and endeavors — will “showcase the important role mentoring can play in the lives of young people as (the women) encourage all students, particularly young women, to pursue their dreams,” according to a news release that was sent out by the White House just a few minutes ago.
Several of the guest mentors are associated with the Lifetime Network, an organization that has served a leading role in mentoring young girls. In support of the First Lady’s work on mentoring, Lifetime will launch a public outreach program, which will include leading subsequent mentoring events across the country and producing a public service announcement campaign on the subject.
Here is the lineup of mentors and how they were described by the First Lady’s Office:
*Miri Ben-Ari, Grammy Award-winning violinist, recording artist, and philanthropist.
*Gen. Dana Born, dean of faculty, United States Air Force Academy.
*Ambassador Nancy Brinker, founder and CEO of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, former U.S. ambassador to Hungary, and former chief of protocol for President George W. Bush.
*Geena Davis, Oscar award-winning actress, producer, writer, philanthropist, and founder of the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media.  
*Dominique Dawes, Olympic gold medalist, motivational speaker, gymnastics coach, media analyst, and co-chair of the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition.
* Louise Erdrich, Pulitzer Prize-winning author.
*Judith Jamison, award-winning dancer, choreographer, author, and artistic director of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.
* Rashida Jones, actress, screenwriter, board member to the International Peace Games and active philanthropist.
*Michelle Kwan, world-renowned figure skater, public diplomacy ambassador, and member of the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition.
*Nina Lederman, senior vice-president of series programming and development for Lifetime Networks.
* Ledisi, Grammy-nominated recording artist, songwriter, and record producer.
* Lisa Leslie, Olympic gold medalist and former WNBA professional basketball player.
* Vanessa Minnillo, actress, model, television host, and former Miss Teen USA.     
*Ellen Ochoa, astronaut, engineer, and current deputy director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center.
* Abbe Raven, president and CEO of A&E Television Networks.
* Tracee Ellis Ross, award-winning actress, producer, model, and philanthropist.
* Anna Deavere Smith, award-winning playwright, actress, and professor of performance studies at New York University.
*Hilary Swank, two-time Academy Award-winning actress.
* Kerry Washington, award-winning actress, philanthropist, and member of the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities.
* Ali Wentworth, comedienne, actress, correspondent, and author.
* Sherrie Westin, executive vice president and chief marketing officer for Sesame Workshop.
* Alfre Woodard, award-winning, film, stage, and television actress, and founder of Artists for a New South Africa.

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