Alumni

A group of people with a range of light to dark skin tones pose in front of a banner that reads, “Bring Change Home.”
  • Stories
  • Building the Center
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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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.
  • The Arts
  • Stories
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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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
Meet four Obama Alumni mentors helping the next generation of changemakers

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

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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
  • Changemakers
Ashlee Davis - Obama alum leading with PRIDE

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
  • Changemakers
Brian Bond - Obama alum leading with PRIDE

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
  • Changemakers
Dylan Orr - Obama alum leading with PRIDE

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
  • Changemakers
Pamela Karlan - Obama alum leading with PRIDE

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

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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 three alumni who helped shape the Obama brand

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

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The image is a combined photo of five women. The first is Clarissa Kornell: she has long curly dark hair, a light olive complexion and is wearing a dark pink shirt with a light pink scarf. Clarissa is smiling in the picture. The second woman is Sabra Townsend: she has shoulder length locs that are curled. Sabra has a medium brown skinned complexion and is wearing a dark blue blazer with an orange shirt underneath. Sabra is smiling in the picture. The third woman is Juliet Choi: she has dark hair cut into a shoulder-length bob and she has an olive complexion. Juliet is wearing black glasses, a brown necklace, and a short sleeved blue blouse. Juliet is smiling in the picture. The fourth woman is Alefiyah Mesiwala. Alefiyah has long black hair, dark olive skin and hazel eyes. Alefiyah is wearing a dark blue scarf and a black shirt and smiling in the picture. The fifth woman is Jamie Lockhart: Jamie has long dark brown hair and pale skin. Jamie is wearing a pink blazer and a black shirt underneath. Jamie is also wearing a small diamond necklace and smiling in the picture.
  • Health & Wellbeing
  • Presidential History
Meet five women making their mark in health care

Meet five women carrying forward the legacy of the Affordable Care Act in their communities

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Daniel Fairley II, a Black man with a light skin tone smiles at the camera. He has short black hair and glasses. He is wearing a light purple blazer and a dark purple hoodie.
  • Leaders
  • The Obama Administration
How a former White House intern and Obama Leader is making a difference today

Meet an Obama Leader supporting Virginians in need.

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44 Alumni, Tess Hetzel (on the left) and Paul Montiero Jr. (on the right) are smiling into the camera. They are located in an office in the Maryland Capitol. In the room is a white fireplace with a black firepit, a black lace couch, and a beige wall with a larger painting – person unseen – with a gold frame. Tess Hetzel has a pale complexion, long reddish blonde hair, and blue eyes. She is wearing a yellow cardigan and a black v-neck t-shirt. Paul Montiero Jr. has a brown complexion, dark brown curly hair, and brown eyes. He is wearing a black and white pinstriped suit, with a white button-down, and a gray tie.
  • The Obama Administration
  • Presidential History
Meet five Obama alum making a difference in state and local government

Meet five people whose time campaigning for President Obama inspired them to continue serving their communities

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A black man, with medium skin tone, Jesse Thomas talks with his hand up into a microphone. Separated by a white line, a black woman, with dark skin tone in a blue suit, Representative Lauren Underwood, stands smiling.
  • Event
  • Defending Democracy
Two Obama alumni share their stories on stage at the 2023 Democracy Forum

Meet two Obama Alumni working to carry progress forward.

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  • The Obama Administration
  • Changemakers
Six campaign alumni share how they continue the Obama legacy

Learn about six 2008 alumni and their positive impact on our world 15 years later.

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Rebecca speaks at Harvard Kennedy School affinity celebration for disabled graduates. She is wearing silver hoop earrings, a purple dress, and a black blazer. She is sitting in front of a red background that reads, “Affinity Celebration for Graduates.”
  • Equality
  • The Obama Administration
Meet the Obama alum championing disability rights for all

Meet the Obama alum who is championing disability rights for all.

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Angela Barranco stands next to seven others as they watch President Obama sign a document in the Oval Office. All people are a range of light to medium skin tones. President Obama sits behind his desk.
  • Sustainability
  • The Obama Administration
Obama alum continues fighting for climate goals

Meet the Obama alum who is leading climate action efforts at The Climate Group.

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Devin Hampton, a Black man with a light medium skin tone, holds a closed-lip smile. He has short black hair and is wearing a gray suit jacket and white shirt. In the background is an office space with plants.
  • Sustainability
  • The Obama Administration
Obama alum brings diversity to the clean energy space

Meet the Obama alum who is working to create new opportunities for Black and Brown professionals in the clean energy space.

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A large visual of "2022" with blue and green ombre numbers and white background.
  • Stories
  • Programs
Inspiring hope. Taking action.

As we reflect on this year, we couldn’t be more proud of the work of our global network of leaders who are tackling some of the most vital issues of our time and working together to strengthen their communities and our institutions.

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A side view of President Obama wearing black shades, a black jacket, and black pants, He at the bow of a boat surrounded by water around.
  • Presidential History
  • Sustainability
The best possible shot to save the one planet we’ve got

Five years ago this week, the Paris Climate Agreement took effect, as nearly 200 nations committed to reduce their carbon emissions for the first time.

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Crowd surrounding The white house lit up by colors representing pride
  • Equality
  • Presidential History
Justice like a thunderbolt

June 26, 2015 marked an unforgettable day in the Obama Presidency. The Supreme Court ruled on marriage equality, President Obama paid tribute to Reverend Pinckney and his eight parishioners in Charleston, and the White House shone with pride for all to see

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A woman with a medium deep skin tone smiles. She has grey-streaked black hair, glasses, red lipstick, a pearl necklace, and is wearing a white suit jacket with white accents on the collar.
  • Equality
  • The Obama Administration
Taking up the baton: Jocelyn Frye

Meet One Obama Alum Who is Leading the Fight for Women's Equality

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President Obama is shown shaking the hand of a young man with a deep skin tone while surrounded by other women with deep and medium skin tones.
  • The Obama Administration
  • The Arts
Taking up the baton: Jason Green

This Obama alum is using stories from our past to help communities move forward today.

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The camera focuses on a man and woman with medium skin tones as they engage in conversation in a room of people
  • Presidential History
  • Programs
“I’m asking you to believe. Not in my ability to bring about change — but in yours.”

Five years later, a look back at President Obama’s farewell address and the call to action that drives our mission at the Foundation

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José Rico, former Executive Director of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans, speaks at the White House Hispanic Action Summit in Durham, NC.
  • Education
  • Community Engagement
Taking up the baton: José Rico

Meet an Obama Alum who is helping young Chicagoans reach their dreams

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The Obama Foundation Logo
  • The Obama Administration
  • Watch
President Obama catches up with Obama alumni

Thanks for tuning in for a special conversation between President Obama, David Plouffe, and Obama Alumni Association members.

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President Obama stands next to a man with a light skin tone with short wavy brown hair while they look over a document in an office
  • Watch
  • The Obama Administration
A conversation with Cody Keenan, former White House chief speechwriter

Learn more about the Selma text that will appear on the exterior of the Museum of the Obama Presidential Center

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President Obama sits in the situation room, talking to a man in a blue collared shirt.
  • Defending Democracy
  • Presidential History
America hadn’t forgotten: Ten years later, a look back at the Osama bin Laden raid

Ten years after the raid against Osama bin Laden, watch a special conversation between President Obama and Admiral William McRaven, the commander of the special operations forces who executed the historic operation.

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Consuela Hendricks and Angela Lin smile to camera with mountain scenery behind them.
  • Stories
  • The Obama Administration
See how former Obama Foundation intern Consuela Hendricks is improving race relations in Chicago’s Chinatown

After meeting as community organizers in Chicago's Chinatown, Consuela Hendricks and Angela Lin founded People Matter to empower, educate, and care for people in Chinatown and its surrounding neighborhoods of color.

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President Obama , Michelle Obama, Sasha Obama, and Malia Obama all march with a large crowd of people ranging from young to old and light to deep skin tones in the middle of a city
  • Presidential History
  • Changemakers
Documenting the Obama presidency through oral history

Columbia University, in partnership with the University of Chicago and University of Hawaiʻi, will produce the official oral history of the Obama presidency.

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The word "2017" in bold letters with each letter filled with a photo of happy, jubilant people, hands raised or clapping.
  • Chicago
  • Global Reach
2017: our first year in review

The Obama Foundation hit the ground running this year -- from launching a Fellowship program, to convening hundreds of civic innovators from around the world in Chicago, to hosting trainings for young leaders across the country.

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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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