I, like many in the region, sat down to watch the President’s State of the Union speech last night.  It’s an annual event that always engenders much anticipation (at least among the media pundits, political junkies, and those living in and around our nation’s capital), and this year was no exception.  Many called it “the” campaign speech, kicking off the 2012 election cycle.  Just a day before the speech, the White House said that the President would “outline his vision for an America where hard work and responsibility are rewarded, where everyone does their fair share, and where everyone is held accountable for what they do.”  Economic fairness was lauded as this year’s theme.

In this week’s roundup of news affecting women and girls in our community: We wonder what Dr. King might say about the high rate of poverty among women and girls in the DC area.  The top five findings of 2011 from the Institute of Women’s Policy Research.  The impact of Pre-K on the achievement gap.  Is it time for a poverty revolution?  Plus, a young, aspiring scientist is headed for a national competition as her family deals with homelessness.

With many kids in our area headed back to school today, we thought it would be a good time to re-visit some educational statistics that Washington Area Women’s Foundation shared in our most recent report 2010 Portrait of Women & Girls in the Washington Metropolitan Area (Portrait Project 2010).

Wendy-Nia Griffin is the S.I.S.T.E.R.S program director at Family Support Center, a Maryland nonprofit that offers social and mental health services to families and schools in the metro area.  FSC has received grants from The Women’s Foundation for the S.I.S.T.E.R.S. (Self, Image, Strength, Tenacity, Empathy, Responsibility, Success) after-school empowerment program. S.I.S.T.E.R.S. offers comprehensive outreach, education and mentoring for pre-adolescent and adolescent girls.

After a holiday hiatus, your headline hungry daily rundowner is back and ready to bring you the most important women and girls’ news in 2011.  In today’s rundown: The posse that goes to college together. | Tax season volunteer opportunities. | Recognition for those who advance human rights in northern Virginia.

In today’s rundown: The impact education has on local employment. | A new bill in the City Council could bring fresh fruits and vegetables to some of D.C.’s poorest neighborhoods. | And a look at how to address the under-representation of women in U.S. politics.

In today’s rundown: A look at education and neighborhoods in Montgomery County. | The impact of a new Early Childhood Center in Alexandria. | A decline in donations to the 400 largest charities in the nation. | And the new debate over the “culture of poverty.”

In today’s rundown: Commentary: focus on family poverty to eliminate the racial achievement gap in the District’s public schools. | Same work, less pay — Virginia’s persistent gender gap.

In today’s rundown: A new study links poverty to depression among mothers. | Efforts to narrow the racial achievement gap in D.C. public schools stall. | D.C.’s first woman varsity football coach takes to the field tonight for Coolidge High’s season opener.

In today’s rundown: Local school districts win millions in federal funds.  |  Get to know more about D.C.’s public schools on DC Public Education Learning Tours.  |  And local attorneys general join others in a national call to shut down Craigslist’s adult services section.