Community engagement stories

• 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.

• Girls Opportunity Alliance
• Education

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

• Youth
• The Arts

See how the students explored expression and possibilities at EXPO Chicago.

• First Look
• Building the Center

See the plans for the 45,000-square-foot multipurpose athletic and events facility coming to the Obama Presidential Center.

• First Look
• The Arts

Artist Brandon Breaux and Dyett High School students showcase the power of culture and community.

• Youth
• Chicago

We partner with Local Lunchbox to provide thousands of meals to our young people over the summer months.

• Event
• Sustainability

Hundreds clean South Side parks and beaches

• MBK Alliance
• Youth

Check out the Freedom Summer 2023 grant recipients!

• Building the Center
• Chicago

Meet the women behind the Obama Presidential Center

• Your Voice
• Presidential History

Oral History FAQ

• Your Voice
• Presidential History

Preparing for Your Interview

• MBK Alliance
• Youth

Creating Safe and Engaging Spaces for Youth

• Building the Center
• Chicago

The organization is on track to meet its ambitious workforce and business diversity goals for construction.

• MBK Alliance
• Youth

Since 2005, New Life Centers of Chicagoland has addressed the needs of the neighbors surrounding New Life Community Church locations and beyond.

• Chicago
• Youth

Chicago lost another innocent life this weekend and this one came close to home.

• Michelle Obama
• Building the Center

From our earliest days of planning, we always knew we wanted to have a Fruit & Vegetable Garden at the future Obama Presidential Center

• Alumni
• Education

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

• Chicago
• Michelle Obama

President and Mrs. Obama were back in Chicago to show some holiday gratitude to the people and programs taking on some of the biggest issues in the community we call home.

• MBK Alliance
• Youth

• Chicago
• Changemakers

Read Michael Strautmanis' reflection on his friend and mentor, Dr. Timuel Black, who passed away on Wednesday, October 13.

• Equality
• Stories

Read the Obama Foundation's statement on anti-racism and equity.

• Barack Obama
• Chicago

President Obama recently spent a day on the South Side of Chicago with some of the Obama Presidential Center's future neighbors.

• Stories
• Barack Obama

What makes Chicago one of the best cities in the world? To some, it's the delectable food. For others, it’s the breathtaking skyline and lakefront. Depending on who you root for, it’s the sports. But here at the Obama Foundation, we believe it’s the people

• Stories
• Building the Center

The City of Chicago's prep work in Jackson Park officially kicks off our Road to Groundbreaking—a celebration of Chicago and everyone who is helping us make this dream a reality. Join us.

• MBK Alliance
• Youth

It’s been seven years since President Obama called on the nation to address the persistent opportunity gaps boys and young men of color face and to ensure all young people can reach their full potential.

• MBK Alliance
• Changemakers

To some, gun violence and broken trust between police and community members seem like problems that are simply too big to fix, but not to Willie Barney.

• Watch
• Chicago

Berto Aguayo grew up in Back of the Yards, a neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago

• Chicago
• Watch

When he was just 16, Billy Moore made a tragic mistake, taking the life of another young Chicagoan

• Watch
• Chicago

In the Englewood neighborhood, Joseph Williams is also known as “The Black Mr. Rogers.”

• Chicago
• Youth

A Conversation with Chicago CRED

• Chicago
• Changemakers

When Arne Duncan left his job as CEO of Chicago Public Schools in 2009 to serve as Secretary of Education, he thought gun violence in the City had reached its peak. He was wrong.

• Chicago
• Changemakers

During an especially grueling summer, we spent a month capturing a glimpse of Tracey Lee’s day-to-day life as a violence interrupter, a pastor, and a supermom

• Chicago
• The Arts

When we wanted to lift up the stories of Antonio Davis, Asiaha Butler, and Kemdah Stroud—three grassroots leaders working on the South Side of Chicago to make a difference—we turned to Chicago-based artist and photographer Tyesha Moores.

• The Arts
• Chicago

Activist and violence interrupter William Calloway grew up in South Shore, the same Chicago neighborhood where Michelle Obama was born and raised, and the future home of the Obama Presidential Center. See how Will is protecting his community while challeng

• Newsletter
• Barack Obama

Today, we sent the message below to our email subscribers about President Obama’s response to the tragic killing of George Floyd.

• Take Action
• Health & Wellbeing

The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a grave toll on us all. Take care of yourself; take care of your loved ones. And if you can, step up and lead so your communities come out of this stronger.