In 'Finding My Voice', Valerie Jarrett shares her remarkable journey from a young girl in a diverse Chicago neighborhood to becoming a key advisor in the Obama administration. With wit and candor, she unveils personal stories that highlight her struggles with race, gender, and the quest for identity. As she navigates the challenges of a male-dominated political world, Jarrett emphasizes the importance of mentorship and connection. Readers are taken behind the scenes of significant political events, revealing the human side of leadership. This inspiring memoir not only calls for finding one's voice but also for uplifting others along the way.
By Valerie Jarrett
Published: 2019
"Your voice matters, and your story is uniquely yours to tell; embrace it with courage and conviction."
A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER Finalist for the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work Valerie has been one of Barack and my closest confidantes for decades... the world would feel a lot better if there were more people like Valerie blazing the trail for the rest of us.--Michelle Obama The ultimate Obama insider (The New York Times) and longest-serving senior advisor in the Obama White House shares her journey as a daughter, mother, lawyer, business leader, public servant, and leader in government at a historic moment in American history. When Valerie Jarrett interviewed a promising young lawyer named Michelle Robinson in July 1991 for a job in Chicago city government, neither knew that it was the first step on a path that would end in the White House. Jarrett soon became Michelle and Barack Obama's trusted personal adviser and family confidante; in the White House, she was known as the one who got him and helped him engage his public life. Jarrett joined the White House team on January 20, 2009 and departed with the First Family on January 20, 2017, and she was in the room--in the Oval Office, on Air Force One, and everywhere else--when it all happened. No one has as intimate a view of the Obama Years, nor one that reaches back as many decades, as Jarrett shares in Finding My Voice. Born in Iran (where her father, a doctor, sought a better job than he could find in segregated America), Jarrett grew up in Chicago in the 60s as racial and gender barriers were being challenged. A single mother stagnating in corporate law, she found her voice in Harold Washington's historic administration, where she began a remarkable journey, ultimately becoming one of the most visible and influential African-American women of the twenty-first century. From her work ensuring equality for women and girls, advancing civil rights, reforming our criminal justice system, and improving the lives of working families, to the real stories behind some of the most stirring moments of the Obama presidency, Jarrett shares her forthright, optimistic perspective on the importance of leadership and the responsibilities of citizenship in the twenty-first century, inspiring readers to lift their own voices.
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“Your voice matters, and your story is uniquely yours to tell; embrace it with courage and conviction.”
Finding My Voice
By Valerie Jarrett
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Valerie Jarrett is an influential author, public speaker, and former senior advisor to President Barack Obama. She is known for her insightful commentary on social issues, public policy, and women's empowerment. Jarrett's notable works include 'Finding My Voice: Forward From Here', where she shares personal anecdotes and reflections on her experiences in public service, as well as her role in shaping policy during one of the most transformative periods in American history. Her writing style is candid and engaging, often weaving personal stories with broader social themes, making her work relatable and thought-provoking.
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