The Prudential honorees also participated in a community service project at Montgomery Elementary School in Washington DC. They all read to the children there and donated books. As is typical with volunteer service, this experience was one of the highlights of the trip.

My daughter was asked to speak to the audience there about her literacy service project, and two elementary students there were honored for their own volunteer service.

After lunch at Hard Rock Cafe, all the honorees gathered on the Capitol steps for a group photo.

Prudential Spirit of Community Series:
Washington DC Landmarks
Smithsonian Awards Dinner and Program
Prudential Honorees at Montgomery Elementary
Meeting US Senator Feingold
Positively Speaking – Service Opportunities Abound

Washington DC series (2008):
Washington DC Dos and Don’ts
View from Washington Monument
Mount Vernon
National Air and Space Museum
Washington DC Outdoor Art
National Archives – Declaration of Independence
Sculpture Gardens
Arlington Cemetery – Unknown Soldier
Washington DC Subway – Metro
National Mall and Reflecting Pond
Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial

My daughter and the other Wisconsin honoree meet Condoleezza Rice.

After some time spent getting to know the other honorees, and parents had a chance to visit DC landmarks, we all went to the most fantastic awards banquet I can imagine. We were taken to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History – after hours – to listen to Dr. Condoleezza Rice, former Secretary of State, deliver the most perfect keynote. She was inspiring, funny, and the most perfect role model for the youth in this audience.

From the Prudential site:
“The Prudential Spirit of Community honorees give us great hope for the future,” said Dr. Rice. “Their compassion and commitment are already making a real difference in so many lives, and I have no doubt that their leadership will continue to positively impact the world for many years to come.”

In addition to her many years of government service, Dr. Rice cofounded an innovative after-school enrichment program in California that seeks to raise high school graduation rates by helping middle-school students prepare for high school and college.

Later, Seth Wescott, Winter Olympics snowboard Gold Medalist, also addressed the State Honorees. He emphasized the importance of perseverance and mentorship.

After Dr. Rice’s keynote, we dined on gourmet hors d’oevres. Imagine eating in a dimly lit Smithsonian exhibit, beneath the wild animal exhibits, dinosaurs, and the Hope Diamond. In the Safari exhibit, the recorded sounds of storms were played, and we felt as though we were sitting in a rainstorm, without feeling a drop. In my life, I doubt I will ever experience a more classy event.

Prudential Spirit of Community Series:
Washington DC Landmarks
Smithsonian Awards Dinner and Program
Prudential Honorees at Montgomery Elementary
Meeting US Senator Feingold
Positively Speaking – Service Opportunities Abound

Washington DC series (2008):
Washington DC Dos and Don’ts
View from Washington Monument
Mount Vernon
National Air and Space Museum
Washington DC Outdoor Art
National Archives – Declaration of Independence
Sculpture Gardens
Arlington Cemetery – Unknown Soldier
Washington DC Subway – Metro
National Mall and Reflecting Pond
Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial

As many of you know, my daughter was named a Prudential Spirit of Community honoree this year, for her work with her neighborhood book club. She won $1,000 and an all-expense paid trip to Washington DC for herself and me.

Neither of us could imagine the amazing experience they had in store for us. Besides the first class events arranged by Prudential, we felt so humbled by the company we kept – the young volunteer leaders who are honored in this program are doing unbelievable service in their communities and throughout the world. To hear their stories opened a whole new level of possibilities for my daughter.

In the next few weeks, I’ll share some of the photos from the events. This week, I’ll just share some of the candid shots my daughter took near the DC landmarks.

Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

Lincoln Memorial.

Washington Monument.

The parents were mostly separated from the honorees during the events, so I don’t have a lot of photos yet. In a few weeks, I’m hoping to share with you the professional photos taken by Prudential.

Prudential Spirit of Community Series:
Washington DC Landmarks
Smithsonian Awards Dinner and Program
Prudential Honorees at Montgomery Elementary
Meeting US Senator Feingold
Positively Speaking – Service Opportunities Abound

Washington DC series (2008):
Washington DC Dos and Don’ts
View from Washington Monument
Mount Vernon
National Air and Space Museum
Washington DC Outdoor Art
National Archives – Declaration of Independence
Sculpture Gardens
Arlington Cemetery – Unknown Soldier
Washington DC Subway – Metro
National Mall and Reflecting Pond
Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial

Today is Lemonade Stand Day, a nation-wide event that supports young entrepreneurs in learning the ways of business. To read more about it, and other ways you can encourage your child’s entrepreneurial spirit, please read my Positively Speaking column at 5 Minutes for Mom.

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This past week, my daughter and I had the privilege of attending the Girls Going Places Entrepreneurship Conference, sponsored by Guardian Life Insurance, Foster Klima and Company and the University of St. Thomas. The purpose of the program is to encourage young women to consider business ownership as a method of achieving their career goals – to have economic power without depending upon a corporation — or a man, for that matter.

The day-long workshop in downtown Minneapolis was free to both the girls and the entrepreneur mentors. I served as a mentor because although my primary career is school counselor, I also started Empowering Youth, Inc. nearly 10 years ago, and continue to sell educational products and speak professionally.

After introductions, we played the board game, “Hot Company” where the girls paired up and pretended to be partners in a new company. They played the game in teams this way and the mentors served as judges for the scenario cards. Very fun game!

We also had a discussion about what economic power is, and the girls had the opportunity to interview several of the women entrepreneurs that participated as mentors in the workshop.

After lunch, table-teams of girls completed the project, “Product in a Box”, where they were given a box full of random objects to create a product they would pitch for sale.

Some very creative teams came up with interesting, funny, and sometimes realistic products out of what amounted to a box full of junk:)) I could almost hear the pitch on QVC! Very talented young women!!

The day ended with “Budget Savvy”, a discussion about living expenses and the income required to maintain wants and needs. There were many surprises as girls selected the careers they’re considering, and budgeted that along with the expenses they hope to be able to afford.

The Girls Going Places Conference was a fantastic opportunity for my daughter. I encourage you to look into a similar opportunity near you. Guardian also offers a scholarship program for young female entrepreneurs. For more information, please visit the Girls Going Places website.