Until 8 p.m. includes Twin Cities area

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Two Somali-American women from the Twin Cities joined President Obama Monday at the White House's annual Iftar dinner.

 
The dinner follows the daily fasting Muslims observe during the holy month of Ramadan.

, who graduated this spring from Mounds Park Academy, and St. Paul police officer Kadra Mohamed were invited to sit at the president's table.

What is Ramadan -- and why do Muslims fast?

 
Obama singled out Khalif, the daughter of Somali immigrants, for her work supporting education for girls in East Africa. She also lobbied for the federal Girls Count Act, which promotes registering girls at birth in the developing world. Obama signed the bill into law last week.

 
"This fall Munira's heading to Harvard to continue her education in public service, which was a tough choice, of course, because she was accepted to all the Ivy League schools she applied to," the president said. "But we are very, very proud of you, and I know your community is as well."

 
Mohamed is the first Somali-American female police officer in the state.

https://twitter.com/ObamaWhiteHouse/status/613347412296347648

Religion and Faith

Laura Yuen

Author

Harvard-bound Munira Khalif, who graduated this spring from Mounds Park Academy, and St. Paul police officer Kadra Mohamed were invited to sit at the president's table.

Twin Cities women join Obama for Iftar dinner

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