Essence sat down with Soledad O’Brien for an interview celebrating the PowHERful Summit, during which New York Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins presented the award-winning journalist and CEO with a proclamation, naming a day in July as annual “PowHERful Day” in the state. The organization is O’Brien’s education-focused effort that works to get girls in and through college. Click through to read the interview, covering what young women will need to succeed; including access to higher education, financial assistance, and succeeding in college. Click through to read more about O’Brien’s passions and inspiration and her foundation’s work.
By Enuma Okoro
Soledad O’Brien is a globally-recognized name. She’s an award-winning journalist, documentarian, a producer who doesn’t shy away from hard topical programming, and the CEO of her own media company. However, she’s also been committed to investing in the education of young girls.
And recently, she was formally recognized for her passionate work by the state of New York. At the 2018 PowHERful Summit, Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins presented O’Brien proclaiming July 14 as the annual PowHERful day in New York. PowHERful is O’Brien’s education-focused foundation that works to get girls in and through college. I had the chance to talk with O’Brien about what drives her desire to educate young women and what she believes young women of this generation need to succeed.
“I remember so clearly when I was seven years old and I was learning how to ride my bike. I kept tipping over and my dad said to me, ‘Oh you’ll get this because you’re the kind of person who never gives up,’” she says.
Of all the things Soledad O’Brien could list about what fuels her determination to educate young women, she starts with her own early life experiences of having someone believe so firmly in her potential despite the circumstances.
Image credit: Jefferson Moran-Morales | Box of Dreams Photography
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