2024 Year in Review

President Obama holds a microphone as he sits on a stage at the 2024 Democracy Forum. He is smiling. A blue sign in the background reads, “Obama Foundation.”

As we look back on 2024, we are proud to celebrate a year of impact powered by our mission to inspire, empower, and connect our global network of changemakers. Across continents and communities, they are addressing the world’s most pressing challenges.

This year, we deepened our reach through programs like the Obama-Chesky Scholarship for Public Service, Girls Opportunity Alliance, My Brother’s Keeper Alliance, and our expanding Leaders programs across Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe, and the United States. We celebrated milestones at the Obama Presidential Center on Chicago's South Side, broadened our impact with the Futures Series, and hosted the third annual Democracy Forum.

Thanks to your support, these moments were possible. Take a look at what we've done together and join us in shaping an even brighter future.

Connecting Global Leaders
2024-2025 Leaders Africa participants join Valerie Jarrett on a Zoom call. Many have yellow screen backgrounds. All are a range of light to dark skin tones.

For six years, we’ve had the privilege of inspiring, empowering, and connecting leaders worldwide. Each embodies our mission to create positive change within their communities and beyond. This year, we kicked off our 2024-2025 Obama Leaders program and welcomed 203 Obama Leaders across four cohorts: Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe, and the United States. These Leaders meet weekly to learn from one another and from experts in the field to discuss turning hope into action, strengthen democracy, practice pluralism, and enact change around the globe.

In front of the Chicago River, a group of people with a range of light to dark skin tones pose for a photo. There’s a mix of casual and professional clothing.

The Obama Foundation Scholars program empowers emerging global leaders to advance their community initiatives. In May, the nine-month program culminated with the Graduation Convening, where 30 Obama Scholars from the University of Chicago and Columbia University gathered to strengthen their collaborative networks for future impact. The event highlighted the power of collective action and the transformative change that comes from working together.

Supporting Boys and Young Men of Color
A boy with a medium skin tone grabs a certificate from a man with a medium skin tone. More young men with a range of light to dark skin tones are lined and blurred in the background.

In 2024, the My Brother’s Keeper Alliance launched the inaugural MBK-Obama Leadership Academy in partnership with Chicago Public Schools, bringing together incoming high school freshmen for a six-week program that allowed them to build leadership skills, foster community, and inspire action toward positive change. Learn more.

A young Black man with a dark skin tone sits behind an anchor desk with TNT Sports at the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Final Four in Phoenix

This spring, the My Brother’s Keeper Alliance gave three young men the opportunity to work behind the scenes with TNT Sports at the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Final Four in Phoenix. There, they gained an up-close, hands-on experience of the tournament and learned what it takes to plan and execute one of the biggest events in collegiate sports. Learn more.

Justin Harris and Calen Redic, participants of the My Brother’s Keeper Alliance and Girls Opportunity Alliance, respectively, had the opportunity to intern for NBC during the Paris Olympics. Their roles  included supporting media operations, managing game feeds, and assisting the athlete logistics team. Their experiences highlight the power of mentorship and exposure to transformative career opportunities.

An aerial view of an audience with a range of people with light to dark skin tones. A man with a medium skin tone speaks behind a podium. He is wearing a blue suit jacket and glasses.

Yonkers, New York, one of four MBK Model Communities, raised its high school graduation rate to 91% from 70% after partnering with the My Brother’s Keeper Alliance. Through data-driven strategies, enhanced parental engagement, and increased academic support, Yonkers Public Schools successfully transformed educational outcomes for young men of color, creating a model for other districts to replicate. Learn more.

Empowering Girls Worldwide
Mrs. Obama wears a black top and braids as she speaks to grassroots leaders from Botswana, Tanzania, Costa Rica, Barbados, and Nepal, who are part of the Girls Opportunity Alliance Network via zoom.

Earlier this year, Mrs. Obama engaged with grassroots leaders from Botswana, Tanzania, Costa Rica, Barbados, and Nepal, who are part of the Girls Opportunity Alliance Network. These leaders work tirelessly to advance girls' education and empowerment, transforming lives every day.

The Girls Opportunity Alliance convened grassroots leaders from its Network across Latin America and the Caribbean in Lima, Peru, providing an opportunity for these leaders to connect, share best practices, and learn from experts to strengthen and advance their organizations’ work to empower and educate adolescent girls.

A woman with a medium dark skin tone and short brown hair speaks behind a podium. Four women with a range of light to dark skin tones sit on the stage alongside her. All are dressed professionally. A purple backdrop behind her reads, “Girls Opportunity Alliance” and “Empower, Educate, Collaborate.”

In December, the Alliance brought together more than 80 girl-serving leaders and stakeholders from its work across Chicago for a convening focused on the power of connection and community. Leaders engaged in sessions with experts on girls’ health and safety, organizational legacy and planning, and mindful leadership. The Alliance also welcomed Chicago Public Schools leadership and various city and state office representatives to explore collaborative opportunities to better support adolescent girls across Chicago.

A Black woman wearing a blue sweatshirt and floral leggings holds a yoga pose. She is encircled by a group of adolescent Black girls wearing matching maroon shirts and holding the same pose. They are a range of light to dark skin tones.

To celebrate International Day of the Girl, the Girls Opportunity Alliance announced more than $1 million in support of 26 organizations empowering adolescent girls in Chicago and around the world. Learn more.

Bring Change Home
Young women with a range of medium to dark skin tones walk in a lit hallway. All are smiling.

The Obama Foundation Futures Series exposes Hyde Park Academy High School students to a variety of career pathways through conversations with inspiring leaders from many different industries. In March, students traveled to Halas Hall, also known as the Chicago Bears headquarters, to hear from President and CEO of the Bears Kevin Warren and his team. They learned all about the great careers behind—and beyond—being on the field.

Obama Foundation staff pose with students a part of the Obama Youth Jobs Corps. All are smiling and are a range of light to dark skin tones.

The Obama Youth Jobs Corps, in partnership with Urban Alliance, a national youth development nonprofit, supports high school students preparing for career development opportunities, including placing interns at the Obama Presidential Center once it opens. The program typically supports six interns in Chicago for a 10-month period, running from late fall through mid-summer. Learn more.

On a clear blue-sky day, President Obama stands in a hard hat and a brightly colored safety vest at the Obama Presidential construction site and signs a beam. A large group of construction workers with various skin tones also wearing safety clothing surround him.

In 2024, we marked a major milestone at the Obama Presidential Center, the Museum Building has reached its final height of 225 feet. President Obama joined construction workers to sign a beam that will become part of the Sky Room ceiling. Located on the top floor, the Sky Room will offer a space for reflection and panoramic views of the city. Learn more.

An 83 ft. x 25 ft. painted-glass window, titled “Uprising of the Sun,” by world-renowned Ethiopian-American artist Julie Mehretu is now featured on the north facade of the future Obama Presidential Center’s Museum Building. The piece reflects on the historical context of President Obama’s legacy, and will inspire viewers and draw visitors to the Center on the South Side of Chicago. Learn more.

A woman with a dark skin tone sits next to a woman with a light skin tone and brown hair. All are smiling and wearing glasses.

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Ryan Reynolds sits on a stage at the 2024 Democracy Forum alongside Country Star Reyna Roberts and Ayad Akhtar. All are a range of light to dark skin tones.

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A large audience in a dimly blue lit room listens to President Obama Speak at the 2024 Democracy Forum.

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President Barack Obama moderates "Hope and Pluralism," a conversation with next-generation leaders Manu Meel, Nika Kovač, and Ainka Jackson. All are a range of light to dark skin tones.

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The Obama Foundation hosted its third annual Democracy Forum in early December, welcoming thousands of people virtually and over 600 participants to Chicago and virtually exploring the themes of pluralism. The event featured inspiring conversations that deepened understanding of diverse perspectives and reinforced a shared commitment to strengthening democracy. Learn more.

Let’s Bring Change Home.

President Obama sits in a semi circle with Obama Scholars. All are dressed professionally and have a range of light to dark skin tones. Yellow and blue signs are in the background that read, “Obama Foundation Scholars.”
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2024 Democracy Forum

Find out what global leaders, changemakers, and President Obama had to say about pluralism and bringing change home.

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Joséphine Goube, a tall woman with a light skin tone and dark hair, smiles as she faces an audience. She is wearing a tan blazer and white top. Behind her is a sign that reads, “Sistech.”
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