Sherra Bennett

2026-2027 Obama Foundation USA Leader

Headshot of Sherra Bennett, 2026-2027 Obama Foundation USA Leader

Director of Movement Building, Place-Based Strategy & External Affairs, Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation and Arkansas Chair, Delta Philanthropy Forum

Little Rock, Arkansas

Sherra Bennett is the senior program officer at the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation and the Arkansas co-chair at the Delta Philanthropy Forum, where she leads community-centered strategies that advance opportunity for ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) individuals and families, particularly in rural and under-resourced communities across Arkansas. She launched the Thriving Communities Initiative, securing over $2.4M in grants and delivering over 2,200 hours of technical assistance to strengthen rural municipal and nonprofit capacity statewide.

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The Barack Obama Foundation is registered as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization (EIN 46-4950751).

Meet the 2026-2027 United States Leaders

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Adrian Lipscombe

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Ahmed Badr

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Alejandro Miranda

Madison, Wisconsin
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Allie Utley

Overland Park, Kansas
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Amanda Swope

Tulsa, Oklahoma
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Amara Manoogian

Washington, District of Columbia
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Angelica Salinas

Oak Creek, Colorado
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Berto Aguayo

Chicago, Illinois
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Caroline Hutton

Washington, District of Columbia
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Chastity Bowick

Columbus, Ohio
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Deja Foxx

Tucson, Arizona
Elizabeth Toba Pearlman thumbnail

Elizabeth "Toba" Pearlman

Chicago, Illinois
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Erin Wilson

Alexandria, Virginia
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Jade Begay, Diné and Tesuque Pueblo

Santa Fe, New Mexico
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Jahnavi Rao

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Jamila Trimuel

Chicago, Illinois
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Jenna Cargile

Clarksville, Tennessee
Joshua JP Peters thumbnail

Joshua “JP” Peters

Chicago, Illinois
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Joshua Manske

Algona, Iowa
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Juan Diego “JD” Mazuera Arias

Charlotte, North Carolina
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Keaton Sunchild

Great Falls, Montana
Kellyn King thumbnail

Kellyn King

Simi Valley, California
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Khalil Thompson

Washington, District of Columbia
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Landon Mascareñaz

Denver, Colorado
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Larissa “Larz” May

San Francisco, California
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Laura Grannemann

Detroit, Michigan
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Laura Restrepo

Horsham, Pennsylvania
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Lauren Click

Phoenix, Arizona
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Lonnie Scott

Gainesville, Florida
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Lucas Schleusener

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María José Ramírez Braíz

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Mary “Margo” Franz

Seattle, Washington
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Matt Hildreth

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Nalleli Cobo-Uriarte

Los Angeles, California
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Naomi Henigin

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Ora Nitkin-Kaner

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Leaders

For emerging leaders who have demonstrated a commitment to advancing the common good.

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