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Yes She Can: 10 Stories of Hope & Change from Young Female Staffers of the Obama White House

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Return to President Obama’s White House in this anthology for young women by young women, featuring stories from ten inspiring junior staffers who joined his administration right out of college with the hope of making a difference.

Meet ten amazing young women who were so inspired by Barack Obama’s inclusive feminist politics that they decided to join his White House. Although they were technically the lowest ranked members—and all in their early to mid-twenties at the time—their high levels of responsibility will surprise you.

There’s Kalisha Dessources, policy advisor to the White House Council on Women and Girls, who recounts the day she brought a group of African American girls (and world-renowned choreographer Debbie Allen) to the White House for Black History Month to dance for Michelle Obama; Molly Dillon, who describes organizing and hosting an event for foster care reform with Vice President Biden, Jamie Foxx, Cameron Diaz, and a hundred foster kids; Jenna Brayton, one of the members of the first White House digital team, who talks about an Obama initiative to bring together students of all backgrounds and ages from across the country to showcase their vision for the future through cinema; and more.

Full of never-before-told stories, here is an intimate look at Obama’s presidency, as seen through the eyes of the smart, successful young women who (literally) helped rule the world—and they did it right out of college, too.

279 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2019

60 people are currently reading
1451 people want to read

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Molly Dillon

5 books9 followers

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
Profile Image for Sahitya.
1,177 reviews248 followers
February 15, 2019
As a woman who has always been interested to know more about how public service works in the US and more about how young people who are interested in serving their country and change policies go about achieving their goals, this book was a breath of fresh air. All the young women here are so passionate and love working towards the betterment of their country and I loved reading their stories and I admire them for participating in a field that is so dominated by men. They truly have paved the way for many more future young women and I commend them for their efforts.

I highly recommend this book to teenagers and women because I believe these stories are a great inspiration.
Profile Image for Lost in Book Land.
971 reviews168 followers
May 5, 2019
I was lucky enough to receive an early copy of this book via NetGalley and even though this is not something I would usually read I was honestly super excited for this book and could not wait to get to it, so I moved it up my TBR.

SPOILERS AHEAD

This a book of a bunch of short stories of different staffers experience working under President Obama at the White House. Going into this story I knew some stuff about working in the White House (mostly what I had seen on TV shows like Scandals) but I still knew a few things. However, I not only ended up learning so much from each short story I also ended up loving each short story in its own way. I was gripped by the things that were going on and wishing I myself had been one of these staffers, I felt truly inspired. I understood each emotion the staffers were expressing, from happiness, to downright nervous about going in front of your boss, to being utterly exhausted from work but super happy about things at the same time. Each story had its own challenges and own voice. The book as a whole also gave me better perspective about what happens behind the scenes of the White House and politics in general. I gave this book five stars on Goodreads and I am definitely adding a copy to my self to have on hand!
Profile Image for Rachel.
368 reviews7 followers
February 25, 2019
I found this book to be interesting yet mostly surface-level. I admire the women in this book who worked tirelessly to achieve their goals and the goals of the Obama Administration. However, many of the chapters sounded really similar and were told in a strange chronological order. I found myself reading one or two chapters each day and then getting bored with the repetitive nature and the bare-basics. I understand that this is directed toward teens, but teens are definitely smart enough politically-savvy enough to understand more specific information, at least the teens this book is directed toward.

Like I said, I admire these women and am proud that women of all backgrounds have had such influence in the White House and government policies. However, too many of the chapters felt like a summary and a brief bio than immersive stories of hope and change. This is an important book with important information, but it just wasn't delivered in a very interesting way.

*I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
Profile Image for Dorie.
830 reviews5 followers
February 11, 2019
Yes She Can: 10 Stories of Hope and Change From Young Staffers of the Obama White House
Compiled by Molly Dillon, et al.
due 3-5-2019
Random House Childrenś/ Schwartz and Wade
5.0 / 5.0

This was such a refreshing and invigorating collection. 10 stories written by inspired young women hoping to inspire other young women to take action, support policies you believe in, fight to make the difference you want to see. Each is well written, with passion and enthusiasm, with admiration for Obamaś mature outlook on the inclusion of women´s rights. It was wonderful to return to a time when ther was enthusiasm and hope, when everyone women had a voice and every voicein mattered. This gave me a sense of renewed spirit and gave me hope. At the end of the book there is a Girls Guide to Getting Into Government.
Fantastic and much needed.
Thanks to Random House and Molly Dillon for this ebook ARC for a fair and honest review.
#netgalley #YesSheCan
Profile Image for Melanie.
2,719 reviews15 followers
August 15, 2023
I was a political science major in college, and have always enjoyed a behind the scenes look at many different things. This book gives 10 different perspectives of the behind the scenes at the White House. We get to see how President Obama and then Vice-President treated staffers, but also what was their priorities for staff to focus. Each staffer talks about their major event with a generalized view of their position. There are some things that really don't seem important such as planning a movie premier whereas others such as the Cancer Moonshot was fascinating to me.

How did this book find me? I found in the KTWU (PBS) Free Little Library in Topeka, KS and will be returning it there.
Profile Image for Kim Freier.
40 reviews4 followers
April 19, 2019
Such a great, inspiring read! I suggest this to not only every young person but every adult who is looking for a quick pick-me-up!
Profile Image for Bethany Miller.
499 reviews45 followers
June 20, 2019
Yes She Can is a collection of essays written by female staffers who worked in the Obama administration. Each follows a similar format in which the author explains what led them to work in politics, offers a description of the job(s), and a story about an event that was particularly impactful.

The book was written for young adults and by (relatively) young adults as most of the writers were in their early twenties when they worked in the White House. Many got their start in less than flashy jobs such as reading the thousands of letters that are sent to the President each day or answering phone calls. Many of the writers tell the story of planning and executing an event at the White House, while others describe the ups and downs of traveling with the President or the Vice President. Kalisha Dessources Figures’s piece about her work on the White House Council on Women and the United State of Women event was one of the more memorable essays. Nita Contreras’s story about a 6-day trip to Saudi Arabia, the UK, and Germany was also a standout. The book concludes with “A Girl’s Guide to Getting into Government,” which will be useful for readers who want to pursue any type of political work.

It was interesting to read about the role that junior staffers play in helping to develop policy for the President and Vice President as well as the thankless grunt work that goes along with those jobs. The book must be commended for its inspiring message, showing teen readers that there are opportunities for young people to work for meaningful change. However, the essays are somewhat formulaic and feel a bit repetitive by the end. Yes She Can might be best read in small doses when you are in the mood for a feel-good story about politics written from a hopeful and youthful perspective. Recommended for libraries serving teens.
269 reviews1 follower
March 13, 2020
A year ago, I listened to Barack Obama tell a packed hockey rink that the most important thing he learned from his mother was to be kind. And be useful.
It's a message that seems so so far removed from 2020. This simple philosophy fuelled many people within Obama's administration, including the 20-something aged women who tell their stories in Yes She Can: 10 Stories of Hope & Change from Young Female Staffers of the Obama White House.
What an uplifting collection! These personal stories from interns, policy assistants and advisors stress their desire to make a difference through public service and have a part in creating public policy change. Each woman highlights her White House work experience: compiling the vice-president's calendar briefings, giving a voice to kids in foster care, trying to stem human trafficking or helping elderly Holocaust survivors stay in their homes. There is a thread of hope in each of these stories. Says one, in a thought echoed often: "The best thing about working in the Obama White House is that people are not only smart, they are kind."
I think that might be the best legacy. And it gives me hope.
Profile Image for Liza Wiemer.
Author 5 books744 followers
January 2, 2022
Phenomenal.

This book of 10 essays written by young women who worked in the Obama administration is uplifting, inspiring, and had me in tears on numerous occasions. I've never had essays impact me on such a visceral level. I was deeply touched by these young staffers' honesty, raw emotions, dedication, drive, and hope for a better world. In these dark times, their voices were beacons of light. They talked about having imposter syndrome, about making mistakes and learning from them, mentorship, the compassion and camaraderie with co-workers, bosses, and interns, and the passion they have for the issues they worked on. They shared their family stories and personal journeys. They encouraged service and opened a window into some of their most unforgettable experiences connected to their work. They not only assisted our government, but served our nation.

This was the book I didn't know that I needed until I read it. If you're in a funk or a reading slump, this very well may help to lift you out of it. Regardless, don't just add this to your TBR list. Get it into your hands and read it ASAP!

Profile Image for Nicole.
661 reviews42 followers
March 1, 2019
** I received a free ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. **

This book was wonderful and I highly recommend it for anyone who is a female or a minority in the United State. If I had known about this book, I may have been more proactive with learning more about politics earlier in my life, especially during college. It was only as an adult that I became aware of the White House internship program, which is how most of these staffers started out. Most of them were interns who worked their unpaid butts off and were rewarded with a staff position in the White House during the Obama administration. These girls ALL had inspiring stories. One of the stories talked about "being the change" you wish to see in the world. If this story can inspire just a few strong, intelligent, females to make their way into politics, then this book will have accomplished something.
Profile Image for Sandy Brehl.
Author 8 books134 followers
July 11, 2020
This is a collection of powerful individual accounts of inside-story- young women who aided and used opportunities to take part in political power from inside the White House and related tours of power.
Each voice accounts for ways that very young women recognized and achieved a foothold on turf typically reserved for long0time political activitists, mostly white and mostly men.
Each telling is compelling and relatable and reinforces that message that ALL people, but especially young females, should see themselves as agents of activism and change. They are also examples of mentorships, self-starting, and the intricacies of the slowly turning wheels of social change.
Profile Image for Olivia.
409 reviews5 followers
June 5, 2023
I was fascinated! I learned so much about what work actually goes on at the White House, and I loved feeling “back stage” to it all. I also appreciated how many of these women stated that they were never in 100% agreement with policies, procedures, and politics going on, but that they knew the work they were doing was important and they wanted to work together to compromise as best as possible. I also loved hearing about what it was like to work for Mr. President Obama. He has a glowing reputation among a majority of his staff. He is so down to earth, kind, and a great leader. 4 stars because it’s a book about WORK- some points were a little dry and I know it was needed to be realistic but nonetheless that took it down a star for me.
Profile Image for Sidbookreviews.
192 reviews1 follower
August 29, 2020
This book as an inspiring testament to what young women can achieve. This was exactly what I needed right now in the midst of the nightmare that is politics right now. These stories are full of hope and provide an important window into all the hard work behind the scenes that goes into making positive change. I'd highly recommend this book to anyone, it was simply a great read.
Profile Image for Trianna/Treereads.
1,144 reviews54 followers
Read
January 16, 2020
Each of these essays are so important and showcase young women being successful and doing amazing things. However, as a whole these essays started to blend together and cover common themes. That does not mean they were not all important, but reading them all together was a bit redundant.
3 reviews1 follower
March 19, 2020
Loved it! Also, learned something new about the different job duties. I loved the realness of the young women and their stories of opportunity and growth.
344 reviews
February 1, 2025
This book gave me so much hope during this incredibly turbulent time in America.
Profile Image for lucy.
114 reviews9 followers
January 2, 2021
the dream ;) I loved reading about ovp because of Biden
Profile Image for Carey.
190 reviews17 followers
February 15, 2019
Take ten young women, all women of color and/or from diverse cultural backgrounds, combine this with their determination to make a positive difference in our world and you will have “Yes She Can: 10 Stories of Hope & Change from Young Female Staffers of the Obama Whitehouse”. The book showcases the strength and determination of these women to step out of their comfort zones and work their butts off. Each chapter is a story of each young woman’s service in the Whitehouse, and each chapter will encourage women of all ages to believe, “Yes I Can!”

Here are a couple stories that especially spoke to me:

Nita Contreras’ (Assistant Staff Secretary, Age 25-27) job was assembling President Obama’s Daily Briefing Binder. As I read her account of riding on Air Force I with POTUS I could imagine and feel her excitement and anxiety.

The voice in Molly Dillon’s (Policy Assistant for Urban Affairs, age 25) head…

“There’s no way I know enough about this to be the lead.There’s so much more to learn. You’ll never be able to grasp it all. You’re inevitably going to ask a stupid question in a meeting and they’re all gonna figure out you don’t know what you’re talking about. They’ll make you turn in your badge and Secret Service will escort you out the gate.” Turns out that the little unqualified voice telling you you’re a fraud actually has a name: imposter syndrome. It’s an uninvited guest that will try to derail you.” I’m sure all of us can relate to this voice; however, Molly didn’t allow the voice to take root.

“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”
— Jenna Brayton, age 26, Associate Director of Content and Operations.

Many of these women were interns and not paid for their dedication and hard work. Thank you, strong women for your service!

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced copy (publication date: 3/5/2019) in exchange for my honest review.
Profile Image for Kimberly.
86 reviews35 followers
March 5, 2019
This e-Advanced Readers Copy was provided by Random House Children's Books and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Receiving this ARC will not affect my review nor my rating.

It is refreshing to lift the proverbial curtain and take a peek into the different processes that help maintain structure and enact change within the U.S. government. The Obama Administration lead from my teenage years through my mid-twenties, and as a potential voter in 2008 and voter in 2012, I was affected by the decisions of this administration so I truly appreciate each staffer's breakdown of their respective positions and how they assisted the President's agenda.

Each of these young women not only provided insight into their day-to-day responsibilities but also how their personal experiences, interactions, and worldviews helped shape important policies brought to President Obama's desk. Whether it was to bring about change to a fractured foster system or assisting with drafting a historic immigration bill, their work has changed many lives. Unfortunately, not every story a happy one and not every battle results in a winning victory. It is easy to lose trust in the very machine you work for, or in the political party you believe aligns themselves with your core values. But that is a reason to keep pushing forward and working towards a better future. One that is female.

I enjoyed each story told, appreciated Yara Shahidi's foreword, a sentiment to the trailblazers of the generation prior to hers who has paved the way for women of the next generation to continue in their footsteps to create and maintain and evolve.

I definitely recommend this book, especially as it is a celebration of Women during Women's History Month.
Profile Image for Anne.
821 reviews5 followers
July 3, 2019
Irregardless of political leanings, this book should be read by anyone starting or in the early stages of a career. These stories are all from younger ladies (early to mid-20s), but their stories spoke to me even though I would consider the start of my career to have happened in my late 30s and am now in my 40s. “Turns out that the little unqualified voice telling you you’re a fraud actually has a name: imposter syndrome. It’s an uninvited guest that will try to derail you… But then I thought, Roy is smart. If Roy trusted me to handle this, maybe he saw something in me that I didn’t see in myself.” (From the essay by Molly Dillon)

Imposter syndrome. No matter what our age, we get it.

I wrote down so many quotes from this book, but I think this is my favorite. From the essay by Jaimie Woo:
“There is a natural fear of being unable to live up to what’s expected of you, and it took me a long while to get to this realization: You are not randomly here. The work you’ve put in and the experiences you’ve had have led you to where you are, and you were chosen for a reason. You might not know that exact reason, or even believe it, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t true.

On the VP’s developing cancer initiative, for example, I might not have had extensive expertise, but in the beginning stages, as we were building up our ranks, I demonstrated that I was willing to work really hard. And there is something to be said about just working really hard. I did what was asked of me, and then I did more. I stayed late. I asked questions when I didn’t understand. By letting my hard work speak for itself, I was relied on and then given further opportunities.”
Profile Image for Katelyn.
1,398 reviews100 followers
December 4, 2018
Easy to read, impactful true stories about 20 something women, many of them minorities, working in the white house during Obama's presidency. This would be a great read for a young adult in high school, college or just out of college about how to get into government public service work. These stories are also great for any young woman to read to encourage them to own their abilities, not be afraid to speak up and to excel.
Profile Image for Kathleen Brady.
33 reviews2 followers
May 23, 2019
I absolutely loved this book and never wanted it to end! It’s a great compilation of ten stories told by ten impressive young women working in the Obama White House, and the various projects, events, trips, speeches, etc. that they worked on during their time as a staffer. I definitely recommend getting this book as a gift for any young woman aspiring to get involved in policy/politics, and also highly recommend it as a great read for anyone wanting to know more about the good days in government and the great accomplishments (big and small) that dedicated women working in public service achieve together.
Profile Image for Lyndsay.
221 reviews19 followers
June 21, 2019
I love reading memoirs written by former Obama staffers, and I can now say that Yes She Can is one of my favorites in that category! I appreciated that all of the stories were written by young female staffers in the Obama White House, all of whom were in their mid-twenties (as I am now) while working in the administration. The stories were all inspiring and uplifting and showcased the good that can come out of a presidential administration and a career in public service. The only downside of this book is that it’ll leave you thinking, “Wow, I miss the Obamas!” Highly recommend for anyone like me who loves memoirs written by Obama staffers!
25 reviews
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June 25, 2019
The stories in this book will simultaneously inspire you and make you ask "what am I doing with my life!?". The young women whose stories are featured show what success looks like at a young age but are open and candid about the struggles they faced as well both in getting to their positions and in mistakes they made while there. They are relateable which also makes you believe that you too can achieve something great especially if you are interested in becoming involved in public service or policy. The stories are fast reads and entertaining and witty looks inside the Obama White House.
Profile Image for Moira.
235 reviews65 followers
January 31, 2019
I received an ARC of this book (publication date: 3/5/2019). Targeted to young girls this collection of stories is outstanding. Young women stepped into the spotlight and up to the challenge of advancing President Obama’s administration. These stories show young women making big leaps and inciting change for good, while making mistakes and learning from them.
73 reviews
March 17, 2019
I loved this book! I met 4 of the authors and they are so inspiring and genuine! This is a quick read and really gives you a glimpse into the life of a staffer.
Profile Image for Serena.
644 reviews
May 13, 2019
I can’t explain how inspiring this is. Certain stories touched me more than others, but this anthology is so strong and so empowering. I love women.
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