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Michelle Obama

President Obama smiles as he listens to a Black male with a deep skin tone rap from his phone. He is wearing glasses and a neon green cap. Two males with deep skin tones are in the background.
  • Obama Picks
  • The Arts

From books and movies to music, explore the stories and art that inspired President Obama in 2024.

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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
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An image of Michelle Obama embracing her mother Marian Robinson. Both women have a medium deep complexion and straight dark hair that hits their shoulders. They are both wearing white.
  • In memoriam
  • Donate

Honoring the legacy of our “First Mother-in-Law”

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  • Girls Opportunity Alliance
  • Chicago

Find out how 14 organizations will expand their programing and impact

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Michelle Obama sits in a circle with women with a range of light to deep skin tones and Michael Strautmanis. Mrs. Obama is wearing a multicolored dress and sits with her legs crossed. A sign in the background reads, “Obama Leadership Network.”
  • Leaders
  • Africa

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

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President and Mrs. Obama are standing close to one another–President Obama is leaning in and Mrs. Obama is smiling with her hands clasped in front of each other– in a carpeted room with large pieces of artwork on the walls and a flag with the United States seal. Text overlay reads “You’re the Barack to my Michelle” and a pink border surrounds the whole image.
  • Obama Picks
  • Barack Obama

Celebrate your Valentine today with one of our downloadable cards!

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Michelle Obama is sitting at a wood table surrounded by young teens from the Ludzi Girls Secondary School in Malawi. In the image Michelle Obama has braids in her hair and is wearing a gray and black geometric shirt, with a series of gold bangles on her left wrist; she is smiling and clapping her hands together. Sitting on both sides of her and across from her are young teen girls. The two sitting next to her are wearing white button-down shirts. The young girl to her left is clasping his hands and smiling at her. Across from Michelle Obama are the backs of two young teen girls, who are staring at her. Both girls have closely cut hair; the boy on the left of the image is wearing a white button down shirt. The girl  on the right of the image is wearing a bright blue collared shirt.
  • Presidential History
  • Building the Center

Learn how Michelle Obama’s legacy is shaping the Obama Presidential Center.

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President and Mrs. Obama face Lake Michigan as they look at the Chicago skyline. Their backs are to the camera as they embrace.
  • Chicago
  • The Center

From its vibrant history to their own personal history, here's a brief overview of the impact Chicago has had on the Obamas.

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President Obama shakes hands with a seated young person with medium skin and an excited expression. A crowd of young people with various skin tones watches.
  • Chicago
  • Youth

This week, President and Mrs. Obama returned home for a series of events on the South and West Side of Chicago

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President Barack Obama, dressed in a black suit with a grey tie, stands prominently at the center of the canvas.
  • Watch
  • The Arts

Gathered together in the East Room of the White House, President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden presented the official portraits of President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama, painted by Robert McCurdy and Sharon Sprung, respectively.

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An animation shows people ranging of all ages and skin tones, enjoying the Obama Presidential Center
  • Building the Center
  • Watch

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

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In a room full of warm, dappled sunlight, former First Lady Michelle Obama leans down to hug her mother, Marian Robinson. Mrs. Robinson has her face against Mrs. Obama's, and embraces her with her hand.
  • Building the Center
  • Watch

Learn more about Michelle Obama's mother, Marian Robinson, and how she will be honored at the Obama Presidential Center.

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(1980) Chicago Defender photographer, Antonio Dickey photographing dancer Tarin Springs practicing dance routine.
  • The Arts
  • Presidential History

Sometimes history is shaped not by the famous figures in front of the camera, but by someone behind it.

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A group of baton twirlers smile to camera for a group photo.
  • First Look
  • Building the Center

In a special message, former First Lady Michelle Obama reflects on the life of Chicago teen Hadiya Pendleton, who was killed by gun violence in 2013. She also shared how the late teen will be honored at the Obama Presidential Center.

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President and Mrs. Obama hug a group of program participants at the Obama Foundation Summit.
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  • Barack Obama

Celebrating our first five years with five ways we’re making a difference

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 President Obama and Michelle Obama stand outside during the day shaking hands with youth. They have a ranging of medium to deep skin tones
  • Building the Center
  • Chicago

Revisit the highlights from our work in 2021, which included breaking ground on the Obama Presidential Center, recognizing important milestones from President and Mrs. Obama’s time in office, empowering and connecting leaders around the world, and more.

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A picture of the sky and starts in a light grey/blue and white
  • Health & Wellbeing
  • Watch

We’ve accomplished so much this year and could not be more grateful for your support. In this season of hope, thank you for joining us on this journey.

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President and Mrs. Obama drop off holiday gifts to patients in the lobby of the University of Chicago Comer Children’s Hospital in Chicago, IL on December 3, 2021.
  • Chicago
  • Barack 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.

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President Obama, former First Lady Michelle Obama, Governor Pritzker, and Mayor Lightfoot wave and clap while holding shovels.
  • Building the Center
  • Chicago

Read the remarks former First Lady Michelle Obama delivered at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Obama Presidential Center.

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Barack and Michelle Obama with shovels in their hands, smiling at the camera, pretending to dig in a pile of dirt. A man stands on one side of them, Mayor of Chicago Lori Lightfoot holds a shovel on the other side.
  • Building the Center
  • Barack Obama

Mayor Lightfoot and Governor Pritzker joined President and Mrs. Obama for the ceremony, each sharing remarks.

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President and Mrs. Obama, Mayor Lightfoot, and Governor Pritzker shovel dirt out of the ground.
  • Building the Center
  • Chicago

After years of hard work, dedication, and endless support from our Chicago neighbors and caring people all around the world, we broke ground on the Obama Presidential Center. Check out highlights from the ceremony.

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A blue graphic includes Michelle Obama's headshot along with the headshots of other special guests for the POPSUGAR event
  • Virtual Event
  • Youth

Tune in this Thursday, March 25 at 9pm ET online to watch Mrs. Obama and other special guests during POPSUGAR's Girl Talk: Knowledge is Our Superpower event.

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The White House portrait of President Obama sitting down in front of a background with flowers. He is wearing an all black suit with a white button up shirt.
  • Watch
  • The Arts

Artists Kehinde Wiley of Brooklyn, New York, and Amy Sherald of Baltimore, Maryland, were selected to paint President Obama and Mrs. Obama respectively

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President Obama looks at the Norman Rockwell painting, "The Problem We All Live With," just hung in the Outer Oval Office, June 22, 2011.
  • The Arts
  • Presidential History

During their eight years in office, President and Mrs. Obama recognized and embraced the power of art.

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A rendering of the Obama Presidential Center campus.
  • Watch
  • Barack Obama

In an excerpt from President Obama’s new memoir, "A Promised Land," he notes that he wrote the book primarily for young people, as “an invitation to once again remake the world, and to bring about, through hard work, determination, and a big dose of imagin

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  • Take Action
  • Equality

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

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Mrs. Obama faces a group of excited young girls wearing white robes with their hands above their heads in joy.
  • Girls Opportunity Alliance
  • Watch

See how Mrs. Obama is encouraging members of the Girls Opportunity Alliance Network to continue their critical work to ensure every girl gets the education she deserves during the COVID-pandemic, then watch her inspiring remarks from this year's Girl Up Le

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A man with a light skin tone in a white hat and suit sits besides President Obama in an stadium during the day. They watch white hats fly in the air
  • Presidential History
  • Barack Obama

Since rising to prominence in 2004 with a keynote address at the Democratic National Convention, President and Mrs. Obama have delivered hundreds of speeches that offer hope and wisdom gleaned from their own journeys

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A rendering of the Library at the Obama Presidential Center.
  • Watch
  • Barack Obama

Today, President and Mrs. Obama joined Chicago Public Library’s “Live from the Library” story time sessions, to read “The Word Collector” by Peter Reynolds.

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Dozens of cookies with the facemask emoji.
  • Health & Wellbeing
  • Changemakers

As we continue to navigate unprecedented times, we can still find reasons for hope.

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The Obama Foundation Logo
  • Watch
  • Girls Opportunity Alliance

In honor of International Women's Day, Mrs. Obama shared the note below with our email subscribers

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A piece of Mrs Obama is pictured on a white plate.
  • Obama Picks
  • The Arts

Now you can make the former first lady’s holiday favorite at home!

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Marian Robinson poses for a photo with her children, a young Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson.
  • Watch
  • Chicago

At the 2019 Obama Foundation Summit, First Lady Michelle Obama took the stage with her brother Craig Robsinson to talk about their childhood in Chicago and how it shaped who they are—and to reflect on photos from earlier days.

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Michelle Obama raises her arms up with four young girls. All are have different ethnicities and have a range of light to deep skin tones.
  • Girls Opportunity Alliance
  • Youth

Mrs. Obama shared this message below to celebrate the International Day of the Girl and to announce some special news to mark the one year anniversary of the Girls Opportunity Alliance.

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A portrait of Craig and Michelle Robinson when they were kids.
  • Your Voice
  • Chicago

Read this article to find out the 2019 Obama Foundation summit theme. Mrs. Obama shares her excitement for this year's summit and reveals a place that gives her purpose.

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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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