(KRON) -- Oakland native Serena Griffin was honored by the first lady at the second annual Girls Leading Change event in Washington, D.C., on Thursday. Griffin was among 10 young women honored for leading change and "shaping a brighter future" in their communities nationwide. “Everywhere I travel, I see inspiring girls leading change in their communities,” said first lady Jill Biden. “These incredible honorees are meeting the challenges they see in the world by developing innovative new technologies, expanding access to education, erasing silence through the power of art and poetry and more." WASHINGTON DC, UNITED STATES - OCTOBER 10: US first lady Jill Biden (front C) sits next to Serena Griffin (front D) at the 'Girls Leading Change' event in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on October 10, 2024. (Photo by Celal Gunes/Anadolu via Getty Images) Griffin, 17, was honored for her efforts to empower youth through poetry and storytelling, which the White House dubs are useful "tools for social change." Despite still being a high school student at Saint Mary's College High School, in 2023, Griffin founded EmpowHer Poets, an after-school program that provides writing workshops to young girls of color. The Oakland native's poem "We Are The Change" won her the position of Berkeley Vice Youth Poet Laureate of 2024. She also serves as a member of the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls Youth Advisory Council, advising on the impact of state legislation on youth and its implementation in schools. WASHINGTON DC, UNITED STATES - OCTOBER 10: US first lady Jill Biden speaks during the 'Girls Leading Change' event in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on October 10, 2024. (Photo by Celal Gunes/Anadolu via Getty Images) Some of the other honorees at the White House on Thursday included disability rights advocates, young photographers uplifting underrepresented communities, and young scientists attempting to make health care accessible for all, to name a few. "It is an honor to celebrate these young leaders at the White House, and I hope that their courage and determination inspires the next generation," the first lady said.