Defending democracy

We seek to build an active democratic culture where people are equipped and motivated to make change, not just at the polls or in the halls of power, but in their communities, in the places where they live, work, and play

Juan Monterrey Carlos G—mez gives a talk titled ÒClimate-Proofing DemocracyÓ during the Obama Foundation Democracy Forum in New York on November 17, 2022.

2023 Democracy Forum Highlights

At this year's Democracy Forum, President Obama joined activists, thought leaders, and changemakers.

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President Obama stands behind a podium and speaks to an audience. A screen behind him reads, “Obama Foundation Democracy Forum.” He is wearing a black suit without a tie.
  • Barack Obama
  • Chicago
Read President Obama’s remarks from the 2023 Democracy Forum
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President Obama stands behind a podium at the 2023 Obama Foundation Democracy Forum. He is looking left and away from the audience in front of him. He is wearing a black suit. Two clear teleprompters are on the side of him.
  • Event
  • Barack Obama
3 takeaways from the 2023 Democracy Forum

Learn how you can help foster global democracy and civic engagement.

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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
  • Education
Meet the Obama Leader making history for war victims in the Balkans

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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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
  • The Obama Administration
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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President Obama sits at a table between two men and women with a range of skin tones and clothing styles. The President’s right arm is extended as he looks away from the camera.
  • Leaders
  • Global Reach
Meet the Leaders who joined President Obama in Berlin to discuss democracy

This week in Berlin, Germany, President Obama sat down with 18 alumni of our leadership programs from across Europe for a roundtable conversation about the importance of nurturing democracy.

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  • Leaders
  • Europe
Copenhagen Democracy Summit
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President Obama waves goodbye to a crowd as he walks off stage
  • Barack Obama
  • Watch
Democracy in the digital realm

Hear President Obama share his vision for the internet in this keynote address at Stanford University.

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President Obama sits in the situation room, talking to a man in a blue collared shirt.
  • Presidential History
  • Watch
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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President Obama in conversation with Graça Machel, moderated by Lesley Williams as part of the Mandela 100 USA Celebration Gala in Washington, DC on April 27, 2019. The Obama Foundation is providing these photos for personal use only. Please credit "The O
  • Watch
  • Barack Obama
Celebrating Mandela 100

Learn how we're celebrating the centenary of Nelson Mandela's birth and hear from Leaders: Africa participant Lesley Williams on the legacy and work Madiba has left for all of us to carry forward.

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