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President Obama sits at a desk signing the Affordable Care Act, surrounded by a group of politicians, then Vice President Joe Biden, and a young boy.
  • Presidential History
  • Alumni
Five Obama Alum carrying on the legacy of the Affordable Care Act

Get to know a few Obama alums changing the landscape of health care across the globe

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Eight young men with a range of medium to dark skin tones play basketball on a black basketball court. Photo Credit: Lucas Kult-Banourt
  • MBK Alliance
  • Obama Picks
President Obama’s 2025 March Madness picks

March Madness is here—and we’re excited to continue our annual tradition of sharing President Obama’s Brackets. Check it out.

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Erin Barnett helps a young Black girl in a leotard with her dance position as she holds onto the freestanding ballet barre.
  • Girls Opportunity Alliance
  • Chicago
Meet Erin, founder of Black Girls Dance in Chicago

Discover how dance empowers girls on stage, in leadership, and in life.

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Two Black women leaders with a range of light to dark skin tones are dressed in pink and green Jumping Juniors-branded attire holding a jump rope inside a studio.
  • Girls Opportunity Alliance
  • Chicago
Unlocking girls’ potential through Double Dutch

Discover how Jumping Juniors empowers girls through Double Dutch jump rope with support from the Girls Opportunity Alliance.

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The First Family walks with Congressman John Lewis, Reverend Al Sharpton, and marchers from the initial Selma marches to the Edmund Pettus Bridge.
  • Presidential History
  • Building the Center
Meet the photographer who captured President Obama’s 50th anniversary visit to Selma, AL
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Two bluish purple inverted triangles of wall substructure look to be wedged into the ground on the north face of Home Court, hinting at the shape of the metal panels that will eventually cover this part of the building, and the shape of glass walls between the wedges. In the foreground concrete angular and curved support walls and railings, and contours of geofoam span the landscape where the playground and part of the great lawn will eventually be.
  • Building the Center
  • Chicago
Construction update Feb. 2025: Home Court at the OPC takes shape

Get a peek at the basketball hoop-shaped exterior wedge walls.

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A graphic of the USA shows the states where all 18 ambassadors live. The states are highlighted in orange and tell the cities.
  • MBK Alliance
  • Programs
Meet 18 young MBK Ambassadors

Learn how they're building safe and supportive communities where boys and young men of color can thrive

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A tall, concrete and stone building under construction towers high into the sky. Scaffolding and a crane can be seen on the sides.
  • Building the Center
  • Chicago
Construction update Jan. 2025: Glass and granite continue to climb

The Home Court at the Obama Presidential Center was topped out —which means the steel skeleton of the building is complete!

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Robert Diamond, a man with a light skin tone smiles at the camera. He is wearing a suit and is standing at the White House.
  • Alumni
  • Changemakers
The act that improved mental health service for veterans

Explore the impact of the Clay Hunt Act a decade after its passage, as told by an Obama alumni

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A large concrete building under construction towers ahead. Burnt-orange scaffolding can be seen running from the bottom to the top, many stories high.
  • Building the Center
  • Chicago
Construction update Nov. 2024: steel, stone, and art

Get a peek at the steel framing for the athletics facility, museum building stone installation and an update on the latest artwork.

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An exterior shot of Studio Yogi. A banner outside the building reads, “Studio Yogi.”
  • Community Engagement
  • Chicago
South Side yoga studio fosters wellness and community

Julia Perkins founded Studio Yogi to make wellness accessible for all. Here’s how!

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A young Black girl wearing a blue Project Exploration shirt raises her hand in a classroom lab setting as her instructor looks on.
  • Equality
  • Community Engagement
Bridging the gap in STEM education for girls in Chicago

See how Project Exploration creates dynamic STEM learning opportunities for girls on the West Side of Chicago.

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Sameera, a woman with a medium skin tone and black hair, sits on a panel at Harvard University with four others. She sits in the middle and holds a microphone. A sign in the background reads, “Obama Foundation: Ethical and Values-Based Leadership for Global Entreprenuers.” An audience is in front of them.
  • Community Engagement
  • Leaders
Obama Leaders Alumni pay it forward, guiding a new generation

These Obama Leaders alumni are giving back, mentoring new cohorts, and proving that leadership doesn’t end—it evolves.

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A visual explanation of The Obama Foundation brand motif featuring lines, color, font, and symbols.
  • Building the Center
  • Education
Building on the past, looking ahead

As the Obama Presidential Center prepares to open its doors in 2026, our brand identity enters a new chapter.

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President Obama extends his hand as he stands behind a podium. On the podium is a sign that reads, “BarackObama.com” and features the Obama rising sun logo. The Illinois State Capitol building is in the background.
  • Presidential History
  • The Obama Administration
18 Years of Hope: The Evolution of the Obama Legacy

A look back at the beginning of President Obama’s candidacy as we celebrate what’s to come at the Obama Presidential Center

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Two girl-serving leaders smile as they share notes during the Alliance’s Chicago convening. Both have medium dark skin tones and are wearing pink blazers with attendee credentials.
  • Equality
  • Community Engagement
Girls Opportunity Alliance brings together over 80 girl-serving leaders in Chicago

See how the Girls Opportunity Alliance brings together leaders from across Chicago for connection and capacity building.

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Obama Leaders and Scholars alumni from across Asia-Pacific who gathered in Bangkok, Thailand to reunite as a community and grow leadership skills.
  • Leaders
  • Asia-Pacific
Asia-Pacific leaders reunite in Bangkok

Leaders from across Asia-Pacific gathered in Bangkok to share insights, grow skills, and foster collaboration within the Obama Leadership Network.

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A group of young Black girls wearing dance leotards pose for a photo against a purple background.
  • Girls Opportunity Alliance
  • Watch
Girls Opportunity Alliance helps girls in Chicago gain greater access to the arts

See how Praize Productions, Inc. nurtures girls’ talent, self-expression, and life skills through performing arts.

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Dechen, a young Nepali girl with a medium skin tone, draws stars on paper with a yellow case of colored pencils. She is wearing a purple dress, and her chin-length black hair is held with a purple clip.
  • Watch
  • Girls Opportunity Alliance
Dechen’s story

Learn how the Girls Opportunity Alliance helps educate and empower the next generation of Nepali girls.

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A young girl, Mosa, sits at a classroom desk with a laptop branded with “Beyond the Classroom Initiative” and two girls sitting behind her. She wears a gray blouse and has her braided hair tied up with a purple hair-tie
  • Watch
  • Girls Opportunity Alliance
Mosa’s story

Watch how the Girls Opportunity Alliance helps close the gender gap in STEM through digital literacy training for girls.

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Uyen, a young Vietnamese girl with a medium skin tone, poses with a pink bicycle. She is wearing a school uniform with a white collared shirt, navy skirt and pink backpack. Mountains and flower fields are pictured in the background.
  • Watch
  • Girls Opportunity Alliance
Uyen’s story

Learn how the Girls Opportunity Alliance helps address transportation barriers and safety for girls in Vietnam.

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Nimon, a young Kenyan woman, sits at a table with a notebook and pen in hand. She is wearing a black blazer and blouse, with shelves of books pictured behind her.
  • Watch
  • Girls Opportunity Alliance
Nimon’s story

Learn how the Girls Opportunity Alliance helps adolescent girls in Kenya access high-quality education and holistic support.

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Judith Godfrey, a young Tanzanian woman with a dark skin tone, poses in a classroom with her arms crossed. She wears a black dress with blue flowers and has short hair.
  • Watch
  • Girls Opportunity Alliance
Judith’s story

Watch how the Girls Opportunity Alliance supports education access for adolescent girls in Tanzania.

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Photo Credit: Blue Chalk Media “Firebreak” An aerial view of firefighters digging into the ground. All have a range of light to dark skin tones. They are outdoors and dressed in firefighter protective gear and black hard hats.
  • Take Action
  • Leaders
Obama Leader fights fires and changes lives

Discover how Royal Ramey’s Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program transforms lives, trains firefighters, and combats California’s wildfire crisis.

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President Obama smiles as he listens to a Black male with a deep skin tone rap from his phone. He is wearing glasses and a neon green cap. Two males with deep skin tones are in the background.
  • Obama Picks
  • The Arts
President Obama’s favorite films, books, and music of 2024

From books and movies to music, explore the stories and art that inspired President Obama in 2024.

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A boy with dark skin tone smiles as he holds a certificate and shakes hands with an almond-skin toned man.
  • Programs
  • Youth
The My Brother’s Keeper Alliance 2024 year in review

As we close out this exciting, impact-filled year, we wanted to share some of our favorite memories.

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A group of people with a range of light to dark skin tones pose in front of a banner that reads, “Bring Change Home.”
  • Building the Center
  • Equality
2024 year in review
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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.”
  • Defending Democracy
  • Virtual Event
Ways to embrace pluralism in your daily connections

A 5-step guide to embracing pluralism, fostering connection, and engaging inclusively this holiday season.

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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.”
  • Scholars
  • Changemakers
How one Obama Scholar promotes pluralism through her work with refugee women

Hear from Joséphine Goube on how her nonprofit, Sistech, helps foster connections between refugee women and professionals, breaking stereotypes and building mutual understanding

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Filip Koprčina, a man with a light skin tone and dark brown hair, poses near a solar panel grid. He is smiling and wearing a red windbreaker jacket.
  • Leaders
  • Equality
Obama Leader on a mission to make clean energy accessible in Croatia

Learn how Filip Koprčina is using blockchain to democratize renewable energy through co-ownership of solar and wind farms.

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The image is an in motion picture of a person break dancing on the street. The image is outside on a city street. In the background is a brick wall with a signs on it. In the picture are several people, surrounding the breakdancer, as they dance on the street. The breakdancer, who is in the center of the picture, is standing on one hand with their feet in the air. The dancer has on a orange, pink, yellow, and white sleeveless crop top, blue jeans, and grey sneakers. Around the picture are bubbles throughout the air.
  • Alumni
  • The Arts
Three Obama alumni use art to empower change

Explore the world of three Obama alumni harnessing the power of art to inspire action in their communities

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2024-2025 Obama Foundation Africa Leaders Njeke Joshua Egbe and Vera Osei-Bonsu are both tackling food insecurity across Africa, but each take a unique approach to combating malnutrition and improving access to healthy food.
  • Leaders
  • Africa
Obama Foundation Leaders are fighting hunger and malnutrition in Africa

This World Food Day, we're shining a spotlight on two Africa Leaders fostering food security in innovative ways.

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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.
  • Girls Opportunity Alliance
  • Youth
Girls Opportunity Alliance provides more than $1 million in support on International Day of the Girl

Learn how the Alliance is joining forces with 26 organizations serving adolescent girls in Chicago and around the world

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The image is a photo of a flooded street near Atlanta, Georgia due to Hurricane Helene. In the front of the photo dirty water has risen nearly above the hood of a white SUV. The white SUV has an open trunk. In the background a white van is driving down the wet and flooded street. To the right of the white van is a blue sedan car, turned horizontally, presumably stuck on the street. On both sides of the street are tall green trees.
  • Take Action
  • USA
Take action to help those affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton
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An image of four people with a range of light to dark skin tones, reviewing and looking at the 3D model of the Obama Presidential Center.
  • Building the Center
  • Community Engagement
Voices of the community: shaping the Obama Presidential Center

Get to know the inspiring community members behind the Obama Presidential Center

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This image shows four individuals, each captured in a close-up portrait. The first is a woman with a dark skin tone, wearing a yellow beanie, glasses, and a green sweatshirt with the words "Fresh Afrika." Next is a man with a light skin tone, dark hair, and a broad smile wearing a black hoodie. Next a woman with a light skin tone holds a closed lip smile. She is wearing a blue blazer and white top, with salt and pepper shoulder length hair and is wearing burnt orange lipstick. Last is a man with light skin, brown hair, wearing a black turtleneck and dark jacket, standing outdoors in a setting with snow and mountains in the background.
  • Changemakers
  • Programs
Meet the next generation of changemakers

Three of the Obama Foundation's global programs launched new cohorts in 2024. Learn more about these programs and how you can support our Leaders, Scholars, and Voyagers.

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An illustration of four people with a range of light to deep skin tones lifting one another up on top of a paper plane. The background is pink.

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