Even Reese Witherspoon finds it difficult to globe-trot at her leisure.

“It’s hard to travel when you have two small children,” she says. But her work as Avon’s global ambassador has taken her around the world in the fight against domestic violence and breast cancer and for emergency-relief fundraising.

A two-day summit on women’s issues brought Witherspoon to the nation’s capital on Tuesday, where she unveiled Avon’s latest fundraising initiative: the empowerment necklace. The small silver chain is an offshoot of last year’s empowerment bracelet, which helped raise $4 million for the Avon Women’s Empowerment Fund.

Witherspoon’s charitable work abroad is having a deeper effect at home for her children: Ava, 9, and Deacon, 5.

“My kids are very inspired by the idea that you don’t have to be just one thing in life. You don’t have to just be an actor, you can actually talk about things you’re inspired by and try to create the change that you want to see,” she says. “They’re very interested in green issues. They’re very into recycling and composting — things they can do within their own school communities.”

Witherspoon sees change in one community in particular: Washington.

“There’s a different sort of feeling about the city. Everybody feels very positive about the change they hope to see in this country,” she says.

Witherspoon’s Southern roots make President Obama’s election especially poignant.

Coming from “Nashville, Tennessee, this has been an amazing experience — the campaign, the election and seeing Obama become president. I think my children have really seen that anything is possible. Things that didn’t feel possible when I was a young person are coming to fruition. It’s a great time to be an American.”

She also thinks highly of first lady Michelle Obama, whom she calls an “inspiring woman.”

“I think she’s a great mom. I love to hear everything that she’s implementing in the White House, as far as the rules for the kids. I think it’s great!”

Witherspoon’s next film, Monsters vs. Aliens, due March 27, is a family-friendly animated flick, which she’s happy her kids can see. “I think it’s great to be able to create films that your whole family can see, and everyone can enjoy together. It’s a great way to bring a family closer.”

Source: USA Today