In today’s rundown: The first lady addresses Anacostia Senior High School graduates after their school sees dramatic improvement. | Questions for local politicians on how they’ll defeat poverty. | And why health care reform needs to provide women with more than health insurance.
— First lady Michelle Obama addressed graduating seniors from Anacostia Senior High School this weekend, telling them to work hard and dream big. The first lady also became emotional while thanking family members for supporting the graduates. Anacostia has seen a dramatic improvement in its graduation rate. Last year, about half of the students graduated. Since a charter school group began managing the school, the graduation rate has risen to 80 percent. Click here to listen to part of the first lady’s speech.
— In this letter to the editor in the Washington Post, D.C. Appleseed — one of The Women’s Foundation’s Grantee Partners — asks what political candidates plan to do about the unacceptably high rate of poverty in The District. The piece also mentions Defeat Poverty DC, a coalition of residents and advocacy groups that are fighting to put a spotlight on poverty during the 2010 elections and beyond.
— Will the new federal health care law defend against the impoverishing effects of medical debt? With women more likely to be sent into poverty by medical bills than men, some experts say the law needs to provide women with comprehensive coverage as well as more insurance. Click here for details.
Photo credit: Official White House photo by Samantha Appleton
