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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

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

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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A closeup of Julie Mehretu’s glass installation, “Uprising of the Sun.”
  • First Look
  • The Arts

Discover over 20 art installations that will stimulate creativity and inspire people to bring change home.

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Julie Mehretu, a woman with a light skin tone and short curly black hair, stands in between two carts full of paint and art supplies. She is wearing red metallic pants.
  • The Arts
  • Building the Center

Julie Mehretu's 83-foot-high installation is inspired by President Obama’s remarks at the 50th anniversary of the marches from Selma to Montgomery.

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An image of an almond skin toned young man with arm-length locs smiling and leaning slightly to his right as he holds a certificate from another deep skin tone man with other young men and a banner visible in the background.
  • MBK Alliance
  • Programs

More than 100 incoming freshmen at three Chicago high schools got a jumpstart on their high school careers this summer

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A rendering of the Library at the Obama Presidential Center. People of all ages and ranges of light to deep skin tones read books at different sections of the library.
  • First Look
  • Building the Center

This unique partnership is the first of its kind and will feature digital media spaces and educational resources for kids and adults.

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Indigenous girls of the Sacred Valley Project work on school activities together at a long table covered in books, worksheets, colorful markers, and other school supplies.
  • Watch
  • Girls Opportunity Alliance

Learn how the Girls Opportunity Alliance supports secondary education for girls in rural Peru.

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Betty, a young woman with a dark skin tone, turns around and poses for the photo while walking down a dirt path. She is wearing a striped yellow shirt, a black backpack, and has dyed pink hair.
  • Watch
  • Girls Opportunity Alliance

See how the Girls Opportunity Alliance supports STEM education for Kenyan girls with disabilities.

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Brenda, a young Tanzanian girl with a dark skin tone, raises her hand among her classmates. The group is outside and Brenda wears a school uniform with a white collared shirt, striped tie, and sweater. They are all a range of medium to dark skin tones.
  • Watch
  • Girls Opportunity Alliance

Learn how the Girls Opportunity Alliance supports community-driven solutions that advance equality and climate justice in Tanzania.

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Mrs. Obama hugs a student in a classroom from Malawi as part of her visit to the AGE Africa program. She is wearing a long dress and is standing in a classroom with green walls and chairs that is filled with students. The other girls sit in a circle in their uniforms as they smile and engage with each other.
  • Programs
  • Watch

Last fall, Mrs. Obama spent time with an inspiring group of young women in Malawi who are part of the Girls Opportunity Alliance.

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Addison, a young Black girl with a light skin tone, films with her camera along Lake Michigan in Chicago. She is wearing a black t-shirt, hoop earrings, and her hair is curly.
  • Watch
  • Girls Opportunity Alliance

Watch how the Girls Opportunity Alliance supports girls through mentorship programs in Chicago.

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A combination picture that includes the headshots of Ny Whitaker, Clarence Fluker, Jason Rahlan, and Pam Coleman. (From left to right:) Ny Whitaker has a medium deep complexion, long black hair, and dark brown eyes. She is wearing a gold blazer, a blue shirt, and a black watch with a gold frame. She is smiling off into the distance looking away from the camera to the left side. Behind her is a brown wall and a window that overlooks a city building. Jason Rahlan has a pale complexion, dark eyes, a bald head, and a dark brown goatee. He is wearing a checkered shirt and smiling into the camera. Behind him is a city street (presumably a street in Manhattan, New York.) Clarence Fluker has a deep medium skin complexion, a bald head, brown eyes, a mustache, and a closely cut goatee. He is wearing a white button down shirt and smiling into the camera. The background behind him is blue. Pam Coleman has a light olive complexion, blue eyes, and gray wavy hair. She is wearing a green shirt, a blue and red pendant necklace, and smiling into the camera. The background behind her is gray.
  • Youth
  • Scholars

Find out what Obama Scholars and Voyagers are learning from our alumni.

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President Obama sits in a circle and speaks to Leaders with a range of ages and light to medium skin tones. His arms are outstretched. He is wearing a gray button up.
  • The Arts
  • Obama Picks

Check out President Obama’s summer list of top picks: books and music.

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A group of three smiling girls with a range of light to medium skin tones run together on an outdoor court.
  • Girls Opportunity Alliance
  • Chicago

See how Girls in the Game is empowering girls through sports programming to develop their health, leadership, and life skills.

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President Obama smiles as he sits with his legs crossed. A sign behind him reads, “Our mission is to inspire, empower, and connect people to change their world” and “Obama Foundation.” Out of focus to the right, two people sit side by side.
  • Your Voice
  • Barack Obama

Join us in celebrating President Obama’s birthday by writing him a personal note.

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Elpida Kokkota, a woman with a light skin tone, holds a closed lip smile. She has long black hair and is wearing red lipstick, bracelets on both arms, a white shirt, and floral skirt.
  • Leaders
  • Changemakers

More than 140,000 women across 155 countries have educational and entrepreneurial opportunities, thanks to the 2023 Obama Leaders.

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Liza Zaruba, a woman with a light skin tone and long blonde hair, stands in between country flags outside of the United Nations. She rests her hands on her hips and is wearing a white blouse and yellow pants.
  • Voyagers
  • Global Reach

Explore Liza Zaruba's Summer Voyage, and learn how she plans to apply her new health care skills back in Chicago.

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  • MBK Alliance
  • Programs

ImpactTulsa has fostered a network of partners in Tulsa, Oklahoma, who are specifically focused on impacting the systems that affect BYMOC.

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MBK NEWARK: “NEWARK YOUTH OPPORTUNITY NETWORK, THE JOURNEY TO IMPACT”
  • MBK Alliance
  • Programs
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  • MBK Alliance
  • Programs

MBK Yonkers received recognition as an MBK Model Community in 2023 for demonstrating population-level impact in Milestone 3, achieving a graduation rate of 91% by 2021.

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  • MBK Alliance
  • Youth

MBK Omaha has become a Model Community for showing a population-level impact on Milestone 6, all youth remain safe from violent crimes by demonstrating a 30 percent decrease in homicides from 2011 to 2022.

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A group of Black women and girls pose with a van wrapped with M.E.A.N. Girls Empowerment branding and images of adolescent Black girls. The group is holding a copy of Governor Prizker’s state proclamation recognizing Girls Health Matters Day.
  • Girls Opportunity Alliance
  • Chicago

The Girls Opportunity Alliance supports M.E.A.N. Girls Empowerment's new Resource Van and the state of Illinois declares first Girls Health Matters Day.

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A professional headshot of Ashlee Davis. She is standing in front of a glass window with a city skyline behind her. Ashlee has a medium deep complexion and shortly cropped black hair. She is wearing a blue plaid suit and a blue tie. She is smiling in the image.
  • Equality
  • Alumni

Get to know several LGBTQIA+ Obama alumni building power in their communities

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A image of Brian Bond standing in the Oval Office with President Obama, Tina Tchen, and Valerie Jarrett. Brian has an olive complexion and closely cropped dark hair, and glasses. He is wearing a dark colored suit, while facing President Obama. In his hands is a green memo. President Obama has a medium deep complexion and black and gray hair. He is wearing a dark colored suit and facing Brian Bond with his hands in his pocket. Tina Tchen has a medium olive complexion and dark hair cut to her shoulders. She is smiling at President Obama and Brian Bond. She is wearing a black dress with a plaid overcoat. Valerie Jarrett has a light deep complexion, short brown hair, and glasses. She is smiling in the direction of President Obama and Brian Bond with her arms crossed against her chest. She is wearing a green jacket and a light color skirt.
  • Equality
  • Alumni

Get to know several LGBTQIA+ Obama alumni building power in their communities

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Headshot of Dylan Orr. Dylan has an olive complexion with dark wavy hair. He is wearing a dark gray suit with a striped tie. In the image he is standing with his arms crossed on his chest. He has a wedding ring on his left finger.
  • Equality
  • Alumni

Get to know several LGBTQIA+ Obama alumni building power in their communities

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A candid shot of Pamela Karlan. Pamela is standing outside in front of a large crowd of people. Pamela has pale skin and brown hair cut to her shoulders. She is wearing round glasses, a pearl necklace, and a dark blue blazer and shirt. She is smiling into the camera.
  • Equality
  • Alumni

Get to know several LGBTQIA+ Obama alumni building power in their communities

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An image of Michelle Obama embracing her mother Marian Robinson. Both women have a medium deep complexion and straight dark hair that hits their shoulders. They are both wearing white.
  • In memoriam
  • Donate

Honoring the legacy of our “First Mother-in-Law”

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Watch Meeting—Dec. 31st 1862—Waiting for the Hour by William Tolman Carlton (1863)
  • Watch
  • Equality

Take a look at how President Obama honored this chapter of American history.

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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.
  • Building the Center
  • Chicago

The Museum Building at the Obama Presidential Center has reached its final height of 225 feet.

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Dr. Edwin Quezada, a man with a medium skin tone points as he speaks to an audience. He is wearing glasses and a powder blue suit.
  • MBK Alliance
  • Youth

Hear directly from one of the My Brother’s Keeper Model Communities on how they achieved a 91 percent graduation rate for students of color.

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  • Girls Opportunity Alliance
  • Community Engagement

Discover how Ladies of Virtue is transforming lives through mentorship and leadership

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A black-and-white headshot of a woman with long dark wavy hair, parted to the side. She wears a floral blouse and dark suit jacket. There are three graphic circles behind her: one teal, one light green and one white..
  • Equality
  • Defending Democracy

Hear directly from Adrijana Hanušić Bećirović as she talks about human rights and what the Obama Leadership program has meant to her.

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The image is a combination of the headshots of Jessica Teal, Laura Olin, and Jeron Smith. From [L to R]: The first person is Jessica Teal: she has pale skin, blonde hair, blue eyes, and is wearing a red short-sleeved shirt. She is smiling at the camera. The second person is Jeron Smith: he has brown skin, closely cut black hair, and a mustache. He is wearing a dark blazer with a white t-shirt underneath. In the background of Jeron's headshot is an industrial set with orange lighting and tall metal beams. The third person is Laura Olin: she has pale skin, blue eyes, and blond hair that hits her shoulders. She is wearing a blue and white shirt and smiling at the camera. Behind Laura are green trees.
  • Presidential History
  • The Arts

Meet the minds behind the design, voice, and digital strategy for the Obama campaign and White House.

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  • Girls Opportunity Alliance
  • Michelle Obama

Find out how 14 organizations will expand their programing and impact

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A low angle shot shows workers on an orange basket lift affixing a panel of “Tapestry” stone to the lower west face of the Museum Building. A cloudy sunny sky is in the background.
  • Building the Center
  • Chicago

Check out the latest construction update at the Obama Presidential Center.

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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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