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President and Mrs. Obama stand side by side in hard hats and yellow vests at the site of the Obama Presidential Center.
  • Programs
  • Barack Obama
Why saying I love you matters—with insights from President and Mrs. Obama.
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Jerad Morey, a man with a light skin tone and salt and pepper hair, speaks from a podium and holds a microphone while hosting worship service for the installation of Minnesota Council of Churches’ new CEO, Elder Suzanne P. Kelly.
  • Equality
  • Education
How a child's plea for peace changed this Obama Leader's life
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A mockup of Nekisha Durrett's art installation, Hem of Heaven. The image features a long cloak that has a ombre effect of colors featuring shades of blue, purple, gold, yellow, pink, and red.
  • Building the Center
  • The Arts
Ten more artists have been commissioned to have their work appear at the Obama Presidential Center.
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A group of three women with a range of light to dark skin tones collect trash around a pond. All are wearing gloves and jackets.
  • Programs
  • Education
Climate changemakers share their journeys to driving global change and shaping a sustainable future.
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A composite of 11 different buttons from labor unions that supported President Obama with each button reflecting a different union.
  • The Center
  • Chicago
On this Labor Day, get a glimpse of some of the meaningful buttons labor unions made to support President Obama’s campaigns.
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It's time for one of our favorite traditions: President Obama's 2025 list of top summer picks! Explore the literature that resonated with President Obama this season.
  • The Arts
  • Barack Obama
Check out President Obama’s summer book picks—in his own words.
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Charles Klaikaew, an Asian man with a light skin tone, poses next to a group of Black children with dark skin tones, during a trip to eMpumelelweni Township. All are smiling.
  • Sustainability
  • Education
Learn how Charles Klaikaew uses his skills to help one of Thailand’s most overlooked communities gain a voice at the decision-making table.
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Chuck Kennedy, a man with a light skin tone smiles as he stands in a gold circle mirror.
Chuck Kennedy, photographer, reflects on capturing The Obamas legacy—intimate moments and historic milestones—soon on display at the Obama Presidential Center.
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TK President Obama speaking with MBK Ambassadors
  • The Arts
  • Community Engagement
President Obama and the inaugural class of MBK Ambassadors join together for their first formal convening.
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Vladyslava Kravchenko, a woman with a light skin tone, swims in a pool. She is wearing a red suit, blue swim cap, and blue goggles.
  • Education
  • Leaders
To commemorate the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, we spoke with 2024-2025 Obama Leader and two-time Paralympian Vladyslava Kravchenko, a driving force in Malta’s Para sports.
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  • Education
  • Youth
61 countries, 100 students, one unforgettable summer.
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William Smith Stubbs, a man with a light skin tone, speaks behind a podium at the launch of MoSS at the Queensland Gallery of Modern Art.
  • Education
  • Leaders
Obama Leadership Alumni, William Smith-Stubbs, tackles mental health, online hate, and societal division through bold campaigns and inclusive dialogue.
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President Obama speaking with MBK Youth
  • The Arts
  • Community Engagement
President Obama joined MBK youth from Newark and Chicago to discuss their transformative journey to Brazil, hearing how they grew as leaders finding their place in the world
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The White House illuminated in rainbow colors on June 26, 2015, in support of marriage equality.
  • Equality
  • Community Engagement
Ten years later, we're revisiting the day love won, a nation grieved, and justice arrived—like a thunderbolt.
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Jibreel Jalloh, a Black male with a dark skin tone, holds a microphone as he speaks at a gun violence prevention rally in Canarsie, Brooklyn. He is surrounded by protestors with a range of light to dark skin tones holding posters. Jibreel is wearing a green suit.
  • Community Engagement
  • Scholars
Jibreel Jalloh, a passionate civic leader and community organizer from Canarsie, Brooklyn, shares his challenges of addressing gun violence and environmental issues.
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A collage image of (from left to right) Jessica Byrd, Carri Twigg, Abdul Dosunmu, Derick Dailey, Carlisha Williams Bradley Jamila Thomas, and Reverend Ciera Bates-Chamberlin.
  • Community Engagement
  • Leaders
Take a look at a few Obama leaders fighting for racial equality across the country.
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A rainbow colored Chicago flag is raised at the Chicago pride parade. A group of people with a range of light to dark skin tones
  • Equality
  • Leaders
Obama Leaders are championing LGBTQIA+ rights, not just in celebration, but in action.
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President Obama poses for a photo with Michelle Obama. They are standing outdoors.
  • Community Engagement
  • MBK Alliance
From Chicago to Nairobi, fathers and mentors share how parenting deepened their leadership and strengthened their communities.
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A headshot image of Julie Chávez Rodriguez. She has an olive complexion and dark hair that falls to her shoulders. She is smiling in the picture. She is wearing a purple shirt with a v-neck collar and a pendant necklace with three circles. One of the circles has the letter "J." She is standing outside.
  • Presidential History
  • Alumni
Take a look at passage of DACA through the eyes of leader and Obama alum, Julie Chávez Rodriguez
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Eduardo, a male with a light skin tone,  take a selfie in front of a brown wooden sign that reads, “Sitka National Historical Park – National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.” The background is lush and green with tall trees. Eduardo is wearing glasses and a dark rain jacket. This photo was taken during Eduardo’s Summer Voyage, where he volunteered with the Sitka Conservation Society to learn about renewable energy, sustainability, and climate issues in Southeast Alaska. The woman behind him has a light skin tone. She is Zia NoiseCat, a staff member at the Society.
  • Voyagers
  • Sustainability
Eduardo Marchi Linardi shows how empowering youth can shape climate policy and drive meaningful change on national and global levels.
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Tammy Darcy, a woman with a light skin tone, holds her face in her hands as she poses for a portrait. She has blonde hair and is wearing a black sweater and blue jeans.
  • Programs
  • Education
After losing her sister, Tammy Darcy launched The Shona Project to uplift Irish girls with support and mentorship.
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Han Pham, an asian woman with a light skin tone holds a closed lip smile. She is wearing a blue blazer and red lipstick.
  • Leaders
  • USA
Han Pham is building connection, visibility, and civic engagement through her community-led work with Badass Asian Women.
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  • Building the Center
  • Sustainability
Celebrate Sustainability Month with us and take a look at the latest developments at the Presidential Center
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Kamala Avila-Salmon, a Black woman with a dark skin tone smiles at the camera. She is wearing a yellow patterned dress and long locs.
  • Education
  • Leaders
Kamala Avila-Salmon shares how inclusive storytelling drives cultural change, uplifts diverse voices, and fosters deeper human connection.
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A dozen young men with a range of light to dark skin tones touch the Baobab tree, at Cais do Valongo—the largest slave trade site in Rio. This tree stands as a symbol of resistance, at the site where many people were trafficked and enslaved.
  • MBK Alliance
  • Youth
See how eight young men from Chicago and Newark gain leadership skills and cultural insight during MBKA's exchange program in Brazil.
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On a rooftop, four young men with a range of medium and dark skin tones pose for a photo. They are all wearing navy suit jackets, khaki pants, and blue and khaki ties.
  • MBK Alliance
  • Community Engagement
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Brenda, a young Kenyan girl with a dark skin tone, wears a white Moving the Goalposts t-shirt and poses while holding a soccer ball.
  • Youth
  • Girls Opportunity Alliance
Watch how Moving the Goalposts is empowering girls through soccer with support from the Girls Opportunity Alliance.
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A headshot of Michael Hawthorne Jr. Michael has medium dark skin, short dark curly hair, and a gray and black goatee. He is wearing a dark blue blazer and looking directly into the camera.
  • Presidential History
  • Sustainability
Take a look at three alumni advocating for a greener, cleaner climate across different sectors
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  • Leaders
  • Your Voice
This Earth Day, learn from two of our Leaders who are working every day to protect the one planet we’ve got!
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President Obama shoots a basketball into a hoop. He is dressed professionally and is on the White House Basketball court. A White House logo is on the base of the basketball hoop.
  • MBK Alliance
  • Youth
Meet the MBK Alliance youth attending the NCAA Final Four in San Antonio, Texas.
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A group of women fisheries  pose for a photo at the 2023 National Women in Fisheries Forum. All women are a range of light to dark skin tones and are dressed in bright garb and patterns. Alani Tuivucilevu is on her knees in the far left wearing purple attire.
  • Education
  • Scholars
Discover how Alani uses servant leadership to empower women fishers across Fiji and the Pacific Islands economically.
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President Obama sits at a desk signing the Affordable Care Act, surrounded by a group of politicians, then Vice President Joe Biden, and a young boy.
  • Presidential History
  • Alumni
Get to know a few Obama alums changing the landscape of health care across the globe
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Eight young men with a range of medium to dark skin tones play basketball on a black basketball court. Photo Credit: Lucas Kult-Banourt
  • MBK Alliance
  • Obama Picks
March Madness is here—and we’re excited to continue our annual tradition of sharing President Obama’s Brackets. Check it out.
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Erin Barnett helps a young Black girl in a leotard with her dance position as she holds onto the freestanding ballet barre.
  • Girls Opportunity Alliance
  • Chicago
Discover how dance empowers girls on stage, in leadership, and in life.
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Two Black women leaders with a range of light to dark skin tones are dressed in pink and green Jumping Juniors-branded attire holding a jump rope inside a studio.
  • Girls Opportunity Alliance
  • Chicago
Discover how Jumping Juniors empowers girls through Double Dutch jump rope with support from the Girls Opportunity Alliance.
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