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1993.04.30 :  Take Our Daughters to Work

Contact: HHS Press Office (202) 690-6343
April 30, 1993

       Nearly 3,000 of the more than a half million young girls 
who participated in the first "Take Our Daughters to Work"
educational campaign were hosted by the Department of Health and
Human Services, 300 of them in the Washington, D.C.- Metropolitan
area offices.
       HHS Secretary Donna E. Shalala, kick-off speaker in
Washington for the national campaign sponsored by the Ms.
Foundation for Women, also spoke to the "daughters" gathered at
HHS' Hubert H. Humphrey Building.
       Two of the young women from Washington, Nia Shaw, 13,
Field School, and Yafhette Isom, 15, Banneker High School,
"shadowed" Secretary Shalala all day.  They attended her morning
senior staff meeting, went with her to Capitol Hill to testify
before a Senate Committee, met the President and Mrs. Clinton
when they visited the White House with Secretary Shalala for the
announcement of a new drug policy director, and joined her in
other activities.
       By 2 p.m., Nia, who wants to be a sports writer, and
Yafhette, a 10th grader planning to become a pediatrician,
weren't sure they could keep a work pace such as the secretary's,
but she assured them they would be able to do it.
       Secretary Shalala agreed with Marie Wilson, president of
the Ms. Foundation for Women, that the event was a huge success.
     The day-long activity for girls ages 9 through 15 was
designed to "focus national attention on girls as full
participants in the future workforce and to make them visible,
valued and heard." 
       Research information suggests that girls too often emerge
from adolescence with a poor self-image, low self-esteem,
relatively low expectations from life and much less confidence in
themselves and their abilities than do boys.
        Schools that officially participated in the "daughters"
activities at HHS were Brent Elementary, Jefferson Junior High,
Amidon Elementary, Eastern Senior High, Leckie Elementary and
Bell Multi-Cultural Senior High.
       Students from other schools were brought by parents or
other individuals and HHS employees.
       At the end of a day of sharing in the workplace
experiences, hearing inspirational talks and information about
job/career opportunities, the young women were presented HHS
"Take Our Daughters to Work" certificates.

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