In-depth stories
![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.](http://images.ctfassets.net/l7h59hfnlxjx/3nZDKDZmBz3TaRWSkeW0ol/3d2faa889f79770225df9fa870933ab9/August_Alumni_Social_Image_Feed.png?q=75&w=1014&fm=)
- Youth
- Scholars
Find out what Obama Scholars and Voyagers are learning from our alumni.
Learn more![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.](http://images.ctfassets.net/l7h59hfnlxjx/3iRpeagzhjufY6DO3KgpnO/c1f741473deafbfd1c7fa0a9ab0d6b96/ACS_0030.png?q=75&w=1014&fm=)
- Leaders
- Changemakers
More than 140,000 women across 155 countries have educational and entrepreneurial opportunities, thanks to the 2023 Obama Leaders.
Learn more![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.](http://images.ctfassets.net/l7h59hfnlxjx/56lNNyZIvRLnraYGkb6nDw/49f6a7d84e1aa581af8a01af7c0ab420/Ashlee_Davis_AB_16-9.jpeg?q=75&w=1014&fm=webp)
- Equality
- Alumni
Get to know several LGBTQIA+ Obama alumni building power in their communities
Learn more- Equality
- Alumni
Get to know several LGBTQIA+ Obama alumni building power in their communities
Learn more![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.](http://images.ctfassets.net/l7h59hfnlxjx/2gVWBAI3UXdRzTzNoDUmFO/6b987cb271e889466864907018f46eca/Dylan_Head_Shot_16-9.jpg?q=75&w=1014&fm=webp)
- Equality
- Alumni
Get to know several LGBTQIA+ Obama alumni building power in their communities
Learn more![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.](http://images.ctfassets.net/l7h59hfnlxjx/3iE1VPDSnIuqSVUQyG658z/fd0c93af34820d24631c6a28e6ba6836/image__1___1_.png?q=75&w=1014&fm=)
- Equality
- Alumni
Get to know several LGBTQIA+ Obama alumni building power in their communities
Learn more![Barack Obama sits on a red and tan couch holding the hand of a woman (his mother-in-law Marian Robinson). They are both dressed formally, in suit attire. The two appear to be watching something intently.](http://images.ctfassets.net/l7h59hfnlxjx/3bKu6rDJdONPersxc2hRIv/4668c9e038431e3fb7757c5bfc7af33d/20081104_Chicago_IL_ElectionNight1323-3.jpg?q=75&w=1014&fm=webp)
- Presidential History
- Watch
Relive the 2008 election through the eyes and words of those who lived it below.
Learn more![A person wearing a hoodie with the hood up is shown in profile, crouching down to light a candle. She is seen in profile in the glow of candlelight coming from dozens of votives surrounded by assorted flowers. A set of small votive candles are arranged in the shape of a heart near the person’s foot. Six heart-shaped red balloons float above the vigil.](http://images.ctfassets.net/l7h59hfnlxjx/FKxULg3d2e4eBYq1phFhP/c449b05124095af9db788179d5138f73/Water-Garden-screenshot-2.png?q=75&w=1014&fm=)
- The Center
- Building the Center
Join other Obama alumni in coming together to support the naming of the Water Garden at the Obama Presidential Center in honor of the life and legacy of President Obama’s mother, Ann Dunham—as a gift for the President’s 61st birthday.
Learn more![A man with a light medium toned and a mix of white and grey hair, works on a wooden piece of art. His face is covered by a plastic face mask.](http://images.ctfassets.net/l7h59hfnlxjx/3NuynnlZxisDmUqOXBp1wI/d2ec9151d1305c4d44a5d07fffea6c25/RichardHunt_ShotBy_LawrenceAgyei_For_ObamaFoundation-16-scaled.jpg?q=75&w=1014&fm=webp)
- The Arts
- Building the Center
World-renowned sculptor and artist Richard Hunt was born and raised in the Woodlawn neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago.
Learn more![Pastor Tracey Lee](http://images.ctfassets.net/l7h59hfnlxjx/6WRd7M7oZPGI9fpL3T8Xvt/4158475d793f1040c49205e3e2b7d800/Pastor-Tracey-Lee-scaled-e1601954427325.jpg?q=75&w=1014&fm=webp)
- Chicago
- Watch
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
Learn more![missing](http://images.ctfassets.net/l7h59hfnlxjx/2Ie5Yb0K7yThZsom5SyYnU/c20a441a672096b17c73d4c55757435f/OF111818JS_1213.jpg?q=75&w=1014&fm=webp)
- Stories
- Chicago
In this opening session, hear from speakers like Janelle Monáe, Olympic fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad, Cubs President Theo Epstein, and Obama Foundation program participants who are bound together by a shared hope
Learn more![A group of people with a range of light to deep skin tones walk in front of a trolley. They are all wearing gray shirts with the Obama Foundation rising sun logo and holding up Obama Foundation signage.](http://images.ctfassets.net/l7h59hfnlxjx/69Ks716I1n5Sr5Qrgggz9S/b11cfc1c8fdec5cb2f501f1b8fea73ff/annual-report-2017-card.png?q=75&w=1014&fm=)
![The word "2017" in bold letters with each letter filled with a photo of happy, jubilant people, hands raised or clapping.](http://images.ctfassets.net/l7h59hfnlxjx/tjsozbAzh4L8v8IiCMyK4/93f9875435b098ba850946bb7a575417/2017frame_.jpg?q=75&w=1014&fm=webp)
- Chicago
- Global Reach
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.
Learn more![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.](http://images.ctfassets.net/l7h59hfnlxjx/3mmwnkKbN2XIHW0mNldBIy/f5190279291cc4bd449005400211ea2c/OF_NEWSLETTER_Gritti_01.jpg?q=75&w=1014&fm=webp)
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