Hope Has an Address: Girls Leading the Way

In this episode of Hope Has an Address, host Bridgette “Bri” Wood explores the powerful impact of the Girls Opportunity Alliance, an Obama Foundation initiative dedicated to advancing girls’ education and empowerment around the world.

Through on-the-ground storytelling and interviews, the episode introduces listeners to young women overcoming systemic barriers—from poverty to cultural stigma—and using education as a catalyst for change. As these girls rise, so do their families, schools, and communities. 

This episode is a reminder that when we invest in girls, we unlock progress that spans generations.

Listen now!

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hope in the face of difficulty, Hope in the face
of uncertainty, the audacity of hope.

Speaker 2 (00:08):
I'm asking you to believe not in my ability to
bring about change, but in yours. Yes, we can.

Speaker 1 (00:16):
In every story we tell, hope lives here where history
meets opportunity, progress and empowerment. Give a girl the tools
to learn, and she'll build a better future for herself
and the world around her. Welcome to Hope has an address.
I'm Bree Wood for the Black Information Network. Today we
follow in the footsteps of girls who are not just

(00:38):
dreaming of a better life, they're building it. This is
girls leading the way, a journey into the very heart
of the Girl's Opportunity Alliance.

Speaker 2 (00:46):
That's why we started the Girl's Opportunity Alliance at the
Obama Foundation, because we believe that the millions of adolescent
girls around the world who aren't in school today can
make a profound difference for their families, their communities, and
our entire world, but only if they have the opportunity

(01:06):
and the education to get it done.

Speaker 1 (01:09):
Let me take you to Khalifi, Kenya, a place full
of color, energy, and most importantly, big dreams. That's where
we meet Brenda a young girl lacing up her worn
soccer cleaves under the blazing sun, and that field, well,
it wasn't just for play. It's also where she found
her power. With every kick, sprint, and goal, Brenda was
learning more than just the game of soccer. Thanks to

(01:32):
moving the Gold Coasts and the Girl's Opportunity Alliance, Brenda
and her teammates turned the game into something much bigger.
Her coach Janet put it best, and our main goal
is to ensure that this girls realize their full potential.
The use of football or sports in general, is a
powerful tool, and Brenda took that to heart. What she
learned on the pitch followed her everywhere, reminding her that

(01:54):
her voice matters and that she has the power to
shape her own future, even living in an invite men
where more than fifty percent of young girls don't have
access to education or job opportunities. Now, let's jump to
the South side of Chicago where young dancers Kyrie Mack
and Brooklyn Dotson are stretching with hearts racing to the
beat of the music. They're part of Praise Productions, Inc.

(02:17):
When the girls first joined, they weren't quite sure what
to expect, but over time the skills and instruction they're
being given helped to shift their way of thinking to
a higher level.

Speaker 2 (02:28):
I love performing, so after all the practices and it
just comes.

Speaker 1 (02:33):
Down from sage and that's just such an exhilarating feeling.
Praise has helped me with my discipline, with my schoolwork,
the sisterhood, everything that goes into it. It just has
helped shape with this person and in a race of Davis,
the CEO, founder and executive director of Praise Productions, Inc.
Sees it too.

Speaker 2 (02:52):
We really mentor our girls. We use social emotional learning
within our dance classes, so when we are getting ready
for shows, we make sure we are infuse that. Like
where do you see yourself within this story?

Speaker 1 (03:03):
Brenda, Carie and Brooklyn stories are just a few of many.
Everywhere you look, the girls are leveling up and the
Girl's Opportunity Alliance believes in the ripple effect that when
you invest in one girl, you're investing in the whole community.
Our fabulous former First Lady summed it up beautifully when
she said, the.

Speaker 2 (03:21):
Work you do means the world. It is changing the world.
Every girl you touch becomes stronger, more powerful. They see
their possibilities and it makes a difference. So keep it
up and know that we're fighting for you and working
for you every single day.

Speaker 1 (03:37):
So whether it's on the soccer field or a dance floor,
hope is alive and it's got an address. It lives
in girls like Brenda, Carie and Brooklyn who are just
getting started and already inspiring others to rise. Want to
be a part of this movement, visit Obama dot org,
backslash Girl's Opportunity Alliance, and you can also tap into

(03:59):
the common verstation on our website at vinnews dot com.
I'm Freewood for the Black Information Network.