Leaders Program stories

• Stories
• Building the Center

• Defending Democracy
• Virtual Event

A 5-step guide to embracing pluralism, fostering connection, and engaging inclusively this holiday season.

• Equality
• Sustainability

Learn how Filip Koprčina is using blockchain to democratize renewable energy through co-ownership of solar and wind farms.

• Africa
• Programs

This World Food Day, we're shining a spotlight on two Africa Leaders fostering food security in innovative ways.

• 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.

• Changemakers
• Equality

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

• Changemakers
• Sustainability

Find out how the 2023 cohort created a non-profit committed to a sustainable future for Africa, one entrepreneur at a time.

• The Arts
• Chicago

Ahead of her debut with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, hear how one Obama Leader leverages the power of music to educate, entertain, and heal her community.

• Michelle Obama
• Africa

We marked the fifth anniversary of the Leaders program where it all began.

• Alumni
• The Obama Administration

Meet an Obama Leader supporting Virginians in need.

• Education
• USA

Meet 2023 United States Obama Leader Ryan Pavel, veteran, and CEO of Warrior-Scholar Project.

• Youth
• USA

Learn how Ziad Ahmed built a successful company by listening to the next generation.

• USA
• Changemakers

Learn how Bethany Rivera Molinar is transforming her Texas neighborhood through community work.

• Equality
• Africa

Progress for LGBTQ+ people in Uganda has been hindered by the current cultural and political landscape.

• Event
• Watch

Get a look inside the week-long leadership and cultural experience.

• Sustainability
• Asia-Pacific

Obama Leader advocates for stronger climate policies

• Defending Democracy
• Global Reach

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.

• Sustainability
• Europe

Obama Leader improves sustainability policies in Europe

• Sustainability
• Africa

Obama Foundation Leader transforms aquatic weeds into biodegradable plastic.

• Education
• Europe

Find out how Elpida is making a difference for female entrepreneurs in Kenya.

• Equality
• Africa

Learn how Ireen is improving the livelihood of women and girls in Zambia’s rural communities.

• Equality
• Asia-Pacific

See how Emma uses the law and the power of community to help eradicate gender-based violence.

• Stories
• Programs

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.

• Girls Opportunity Alliance
• Africa

Thuba’s story

• Defending Democracy
• Europe

• Presidential History
• Programs

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

• Sustainability
• Barack Obama

After delivering remarks during COP26 in Glasgow, President Obama sat down with a group of emerging leaders from around the world who are doing their part to protect the planet. Check out what they discussed.

• Barack Obama
• Watch

On President Obama’s 60th birthday, get to know 60 changemakers in our network who are paving the way for a brighter future

• Europe
• Event

To mark the end of our inaugural Leaders Europe program, our 35 Leaders came together to design collaborative projects to support the civic engagement of other emerging leaders across Europe.

• Stories
• Health & Wellbeing

On World Cancer Day, get to know Obama Leader Bhavagaya “Bea” Bakshi, who is working tirelessly to save lives by detecting cancer in its earliest stages.

• Asia-Pacific
• Stories

The story behind how leaders Skye Riggs and Tim Middlemiss founded Ripple—an organization that empowers young adults in Australia to take action in their communities.

• Africa
• Changemakers

To mark the close of their program year, Obama Leaders from across the African continent volunteered to design and implement collaborative service projects that positively impacted their local communities.

• Africa
• Changemakers

We spoke to six of our Nigerian Obama Leaders to learn more about how they've come together to protest brutality and corruption in the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS.

• Take Action
• Michelle Obama

In a candid conversation with Obama Foundation Scholars and Fellows earlier this summer, Mrs. Obama encouraged us all to address racial injustice in our own communities by having hard conversations at our own kitchen tables, in our workplaces, and in our s

• Watch
• Health & Wellbeing

Take a more detailed look at the Foundation’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Watch
• Global Reach

It’s been a busy week for us at the Foundation! On Tuesday, we hosted a roundtable conversation in Bogotá with President Obama and a small group of Colombian changemakers who are working tirelessly to transform their communities.