Valerie Jarrett

Valerie Jarrett is a renowned American politician and former White House advisor, known for her influential role in the Barack Obama administration. Born in Shiraz, Iran, to James E. Bowman and Barbara Taylor Bowman, Jarrett spent her early years in London and later moved to the United States, where she attended the University of Michigan and Northwestern University. Her academic background and family ties, including her father's work at St. Luke's Hospital in Chicago, laid the foundation for her future career in Chicago politics, alongside figures like Richard M. Daley and Harold Washington. Jarrett's early life was also shaped by her experiences at the University of Chicago, where her father worked, and her interactions with prominent Chicagoans, including Jesse Jackson and Carol Moseley Braun.

● Early Life and Education

Valerie Jarrett's early life was marked by her family's frequent moves, including time spent in London and Chicago. Her father, James E. Bowman, was a renowned pathologist who worked at St. Luke's Hospital in Chicago, and her mother, Barbara Taylor Bowman, was an early childhood education expert who worked at the Sylvia M. Becker Institute on Chicago's South Side. Jarrett attended the University of Michigan, where she studied psychology and sociology, and later earned a Juris Doctor degree from Northwestern University's Pritzker School of Law. During her time at Northwestern University, Jarrett was exposed to the works of prominent American thinkers, including Martin Luther King Jr. and W.E.B. Du Bois, and was influenced by the Civil Rights Movement and the Women's Liberation Movement. Her education also brought her into contact with notable figures like Rahm Emanuel and David Axelrod, who would later play important roles in her career.

● Career

Valerie Jarrett's career in politics began in Chicago, where she worked as a staff assistant to Mayor Harold Washington and later as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Mayor Richard M. Daley. During her time in Chicago politics, Jarrett developed close relationships with prominent Chicagoans, including Jesse Jackson and Carol Moseley Braun, and worked on issues related to urban development and public housing, including the Chicago Housing Authority and the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Jarrett's work in Chicago also brought her into contact with national figures like Bill Clinton and Al Gore, who would later influence her career in Washington, D.C.. In the 1990s, Jarrett transitioned to the private sector, working as the CEO of the Habitat Company, a real estate development firm, and later as the Chairman of the Chicago Transit Authority.

● White House Advisor

In 2008, Valerie Jarrett was appointed as a Senior Advisor to President Barack Obama, a position that made her one of the most powerful women in the White House. During her time in the Obama administration, Jarrett worked closely with the President and other senior advisors, including Rahm Emanuel and David Axelrod, to develop and implement policies related to healthcare reform, economic recovery, and civil rights. Jarrett was a key player in the development of the Affordable Care Act, working closely with Kathleen Sebelius and Nancy Pelosi to pass the landmark legislation. She also worked on issues related to women's rights, including the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act and the Reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, alongside figures like Hillary Clinton and Nancy Pelosi.

● Post-White House Career

After leaving the White House in 2017, Valerie Jarrett returned to Chicago and began working as a senior advisor to the Obama Foundation, a nonprofit organization founded by Barack Obama and Michelle Obama. Jarrett has also worked as a board member for several organizations, including the Chicago Stock Exchange and the 2U, Inc., and has been involved in various philanthropic efforts, including the United Way and the American Red Cross. In addition, Jarrett has written a memoir, Finding My Voice: My Journey to the West Wing and the Path Forward, which was published in 2019 and features reflections on her time in the White House and her experiences as a woman in politics, including her interactions with Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor.

● Personal Life

Valerie Jarrett is married to William Jarrett, a radiologist who worked at the University of Chicago Medical Center, and has one daughter, Laura Jarrett, who is a correspondent for CNN. Jarrett is a longtime resident of Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood, where she has lived for many years and has been involved in various local community organizations, including the Hyde Park Chamber of Commerce and the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools. Jarrett has received numerous awards and honors for her work, including the NAACP's Thurgood Marshall Award and the National Urban League's Whitney M. Young Jr. Award, and has been recognized by organizations like the American Bar Association and the National Association of Women Lawyers.