Your Voice
The Obama Foundation is guided by a core belief: that ordinary people working together can change history. Our mission is to inspire those people to take action, empower them to change their world for the better, and connect them so they can achieve more together than they can alone.
That’s where you come in. The work we do wouldn’t be possible without input from people like you around the world. So we want to hear your voice. We want to hear what you’re doing to build a better future for your community, no matter how big or how small. We want to know who inspires you to work a little harder, to dream a little bigger, reach a little farther. We want to know who in your community has the next big idea that could spark a global movement—especially if it’s you.
We’re always listening, and you never know—you may see yourself in a feature like the ones below. Take a look at a few of the voices that inspire us, then add your own.
Stories of Hope: Obama Foundation Scholar Gabriela Galiea Creates App to Self-Report Symptoms
Obama Foundation Scholar Gabriela Galiea is the CEO and founder of Okimo Vision, a diagnostics software that uses sensors for early detection of vision and developmental problems in children in Paraguay and around the world. She collaborated with several
Stories of Hope: Obama Foundation Fellow John Leong Nourishes His Community
John Leong is the CEO of Kupu, an organization that provides hands-on environmental and sustainability service learning to youth in Hawai'i. When organizational events were cancelled as a result of COVID-19, John and his team repurposed some of the food t
Stories of Hope: Obama Foundation Asia-Pacific Leader Swietenia Puspa Lestari Promotes Sustainability
Asia-Pacific Leader Swietenia Puspa Lestari is the Executive Director of Divers Clean Action, a youth-led organization based in Indonesia that focuses on marine debris cleanup. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Divers Clean Action started researching
Stories of Hope: Obama Foundation Asia-Pacific Leader Rashvin Pal Singh Creates Open-Source Mask Files
Obama Foundation Asia-Pacific Leader Rashvin Pal Singh is the CEO of Biji-biji Initiative, a social enterprise in Malaysia that creates sustainable solutions for companies and individuals. He and his team created open-source design files that people aroun
Stories of Hope: Obama Leader Gigih Septianto Turns Office Into Warehouse
In Indonesia, Asia-Pacific Leader Gigih Septianto turned his office space into a warehouse to source and deliver medical supplies across the country.
Stories of Hope: Obama Foundation Scholar Christian Vanizette Creates New Platform Overnight
Christian Vanizette is the co-founder of Makesense.org, an international organization based in France that focuses on how social entrepreneurs can use technology to solve social and environmental issues. When COVID-19 began to spread, he shifted the entir
Brian Wallach, Sandra Abrevaya and I Am Als
Brian Wallach and Sandra Abrevaya met on the 2008 Obama presidential campaign. When Brian was unexpectedly diagnosed with ALS, they put the skills they learned from their time serving in the Obama administration to use—they created a patient-led, patient-
Connie Spreen and Blackstone Bicycle Works
Welcome to Blackstone Bicycle Works—a community bike shop and hands-on youth education program for young people ages eight to eighteen on Chicago’s South Side. See how Connie Spreen is empowering the next generation of leaders, then learn more about the p
Devshi Mehrotra and Compileher
Computer science education should be as accessible as possible. Through CompileHer, Devshi Mehrotra and her team are bringing that mission to life by teaching computer science to girls across the city, showing them that whatever impact they want to have o
Rochelle Bayless and the Grace Cafe
After moving back to Danville, KY to support her parents, Rochelle Bayless noticed a huge gap between people who are able to access healthy food in her community and those who are not. Grounded in the belief that every person has a right to locally source
Candice Washington and Brown Books and Paintbrushes
Candice Washington created Brown Books and Paintbrushes to empower, develop, and educate young children through art, literacy, and cultural programming. Her own love for literacy was inspired by authors like Toni Morrison.
Michael Airhart and Taste for the Homeless
“I show up with love, I show up with hugs, I show up with understanding…” Chicago native Michael Airhart extends a listening ear, a warm meal, and other items to people experiencing homelessness across the city—because everyone deserves a chance to get ba
Jahkil Jackson and Project I Am
Jahkil Jackson is the founder of Project I Am, an organization that supports people experiencing homelessness, while spreading awareness about the issue. So far, Jahkil and Project I Am have distributed nearly 7,000 “blessing bags” to those in need and re
Jonny Boucher and Sip of Hope
After losing 16 people in his life to suicide, Jonny Boucher dedicated himself to creating a new kind of café—a space where people could grab a cup of coffee and also know they're not alone. Sip of Hope is located in the Logan Square neighborhood of Chica
Delfina Irazusta and the Local Innovation Network
Delphina Irazusta founded the Local Innovation Network in Argentina—an NGO that works with mayors and other local government officials to provide the tools and resources they need to improve their management capacities.
Paul Green and the Appalachian Technology Initiative
Paul Green created the Appalachian Technology Institute in Eastern Kentucky because he wanted to create new pathways for students in his community to succeed. The Initiative seeks to make K-12 education an economic driver in local communities and exposes
Sarah Ward and Skyart
Sarah Ward started SkyART—a non-profit that offers free visual arts programming for young people on the South Side of Chicago—to help children get in touch with their creativity and while encouraging them to tap into their imagination, explore new paths,
Sheldon Smith and the Dovetail Project
Sheldon Smith, founder of the Dovetail Project, works with young fathers in the South Side of Chicago to help them build bright futures for themselves and for their families.
Lucy H.
DARLINGTON, MD
I am a BayWise Landscaper, meaning that I use no pesticides or herbicides in my work. Through my work, I create gardens of native plants to help preserve the habitat for wildlife such as pollinators and songbirds.
Elena A.
THE WOODLANDS, TX
I volunteer at AMSIF USA, an organization that helps immigrant women get educated in different areas such as: values, self-esteem, health, and more. They also offer cake decorating lessons!
Pamela S.
MESA, AZ
My husband I run a small business learning lab in our local community of Mesa, Arizona, that hosts, celebrates, and supports leaders and entrepreneurs of color in our community. These local leaders run programs out of our learning lab that strengthen our entrepreneurial ecosystem, promote connection, wellness and healing, and contribute to the economic well-being of our community.
Kat K.
SEATTLE, WA
After 20 years in finance, I needed a break. After leaving my job, I started volunteering for an organization, FareStart, whose mission is to provide real solutions to poverty, homelessness and hunger by teaching homeless and disadvantaged community members life skills in the food service industry.
Wilfrid D.
BENIN
To celebrate Mandela Day, I organized a clean-up in the local primary school of my community on July 17th. On the 18th, I also organized a reading session for 32 students in collaboration with the U.S. ambassador and her staff.
Joe'Nell W.
PHILADELPHIA, PA
I am a community activist and block captain in Philadelphia, where I also work at the People's Emergency Center. There, we service youths and adults experiencing homelessness.
Iveta L.
KENYA
I started the initiative #PlasticFreeDianiBeach after I noticed the high amount of plastic, metal and glass on the shores of my hometown as well as many idle young people. I bought some trash bags and encouraged these young people to help clean up the beach, both to improve the shoreline and help them develop job skills.
Cara P.
RICHMOND, VA
I host Red Table Talks in my hometown of Richmond, VA, so that we can all continue our own conversations and heal as needed, together.
Kim R.M.
SHELTON, WA
As a disabled veteran living deep in the Northwest Woods, I didn't have a community. After joining an international pen-pal organization, I found a friend—a retired teacher—and we joined forces to help support and empower young women to get educated and become independent.
Sasha Fisher
It's quite powerful when families have a platform to discuss village development and decide what's best for their communities.
Noah McQueen
Growing up, role models were scarce. I faced many challenges without really knowing what was right or wrong. As I grew older, I understood what my role in the community should be. Sitting in a jail cell, I found my true purpose: I want to help people in under-resourced and impoverished communities because I was once overlooked, too. Today, I want to serve as a living testament for kids who grew up like me to show them that anything is possible.
Preethi Herman
For me this is not just a project. It's a fundamental transformation of how women make their voices heard and how decisions are made in a society.
Jennifer Warner
Being an organizer taught me I had so much power—being able to talk with my neighbors and people I didn’t know about what we wanted to see in the world was so powerful.
Kent Mendoza
I am a formerly incarcerated grassroots leader. I try to use my story to change the hearts and minds of elected officials to ensure that they make our communities better and that they know incarcerated people deserve second chances. In the past five years and since coming home, I have been deeply engaged and involved in local and state change.
Erin Barnes
Everyone should have the same opportunity to realize that small actions do make a big difference.