As we celebrate Mother's Day, let's remember some of the mothers who are working today. These moms are waiting on us at our Mother's Day brunches, taking care of elderly family members, providing emergency health services, taking our reservations, and ringing up our purchases. They are among the forty percent of mothers who work full time and earn less than $25,000 a year. Their jobs provide few basic benefits such as health care, sick pay, paid vacation and retirement benefits. They have little flexibility to care for a sick child or deal with an emergency at school.

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By Jennifer Brunner

Everything that I've done in my life -- as a wife, a mother, a small business owner, a judge, and as secretary of state -- has taught me that you can't wait for someone else to fix the problem. And I have a solid record of finding solutions - from the drug court I started as a judge in Franklin County, to the uniformity I implemented in election procedures that affect voting rights, to the technology we put in place at the Secretary of State's office to make it easier for businesses to interact with the state and focus on creating what we really need: Jobs.

We must fix the damage that has been done to our economy. It is felt by everyone in Ohio and it can't measured in some political poll -- it's felt by Ohioans losing their homes, losing their jobs, and facing the rising cost of health care. Now, more than ever, we need someone who will fight for everyone across the state and stand up to those in Washington who would rather bail out Wall Street CEOs than main street homeowners.

We just can't afford to send the same people who got us into this crisis back to Washington. Read more >>>

For those of us who track the number of women in elected office, it has been a lively post-election season in the House and Senate. Now that the dust has settled, our work begins!

In the Senate, the number of women will hold at 17 after Kirsten Gillibrand’s appointment to Hillary Clinton’s seat in New York and Bonnie Newman’s scuttled appointment to Sen. Judd Gregg’s seat in New Hampshire. In the House, two of three departures are women: Gillibrand and Rep. Hilda Solis, who is expected to be confirmed next week as Secretary of Labor. The third vacancy was created by the departure of Rep. Rahm Emanuel, who is now White House Chief of Staff.

Here’s where the three House special elections stand:

• In New York, Gillibrand will not be replaced by a woman: the state parties have selected their nominees, and both are men.
• Once Solis is confirmed, a special election will be announced for this eastern Los Angeles House seat. There is at least one woman who is considered a serious candidate in the race. Stay tuned.
• In Illinois, state Democratic Rep. Sara Feigenholtz is a top contender in a crowded field that includes 12 Democrats, 6 Republicans and 5 Green Party candidates. The district is heavily Democratic, so the winner of the March 3rd Democratic primary is expected easily to win the April 7th general election.

Rebecca A. of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Jyotika B. of New York City were selected to go to this year's NCGS Student Leadership Conference (SLC) in Perth, Australia in January, 2008. When they returned, they offered this great advice on how to be a Citizen of the World:

1. We live in a global community - be aware of the world around you and of the various cultures that exist.

2. Be open-minded: approach new experiences without judgments or reservations. Try new things!

3. Travel! The best way to gain perspective about another culture is to experience it for yourself; be sure to stray off the tourist path whenever you get the chance.

4. Be willing to meeting new people: everyone has something to offer, a new idea to share, and a different perspective on life. Talk to strangers, who knows, you may come away with a best friend.

5. Share with your community: part of being a leader and a global citizen is spreading that knowledge that you have and sharing what you have learned with those around you.

Are you curious about leadership? Would you like to learn first-hand about the role our nation's Executive Leadership plays in societal issues? Are you looking for your next professional and personal adventure? Then consider applying to one of the best kept secrets in leadership exploration and development, The White House Fellows!

The White House Fellows is an excellent opportunity to explore executive leadership in a one-year paid fellowship appointed by the President of the United States. You gain access and exposure to our nation's leaders (including the President- yes, President-elect Obama), develop amazing relationships with a diverse group of peers and will be able to translate your experience into a community-serving career through a variety of entrepreneurial and professional paths.

Applications are due February 1, 2009 and the next cohort will begin in the Fall.

For more information, visit the website (www.whitehouse.gov/fellows)