Chicago stories

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Obama Foundation’s Girls Opportunity Alliance announces $500,000 Commitment to Empower Girls in Chicago

Find out how 14 organizations will expand their programing and impact.

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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
Obama Leader uses storytelling as a tool for inclusion and representation

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
MBKA youth explore leadership and culture in Brazil through global exchange

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
MBK Alliance youth explore leadership and culture in Brazil
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President Barack Obama moderates "Hope and Pluralism," a conversation with next-generation leaders Manu Meel, Nika Kovač, and Ainka Jackson. All are a range of light to dark skin tones.
  • Defending Democracy
  • USA
The Democracy Forum

Each year, The Obama Foundation’s Democracy Forum brings together leaders, activists, and changemakers to tackle some of the most pressing challenges facing democracy today.

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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
Young leaders from MBK Alliance gain real-world experience at the Final Four

Meet the MBK Alliance youth attending the NCAA Final Four in San Antonio, Texas.

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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
  • Community Engagement
Meet Erin, founder of Black Girls Dance in 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
  • Community Engagement
Unlocking girls’ potential through Double Dutch

Discover how Jumping Juniors empowers girls through Double Dutch jump rope with support from the Girls Opportunity Alliance.

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Two bluish purple inverted triangles of wall substructure look to be wedged into the ground on the north face of Home Court, hinting at the shape of the metal panels that will eventually cover this part of the building, and the shape of glass walls between the wedges. In the foreground concrete angular and curved support walls and railings, and contours of geofoam span the landscape where the playground and part of the great lawn will eventually be.
  • Building the Center
  • Construction blog
Construction update Feb. 2025: Home Court at the OPC takes shape

Get a peek at the basketball hoop-shaped exterior wedge walls.

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A tall, concrete and stone building under construction towers high into the sky. Scaffolding and a crane can be seen on the sides.
  • Building the Center
  • Construction blog
Construction update Jan. 2025: Glass and granite continue to climb

The Home Court at the Obama Presidential Center was topped out —which means the steel skeleton of the building is complete!

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A silver pickup truck is parked in front of steel beams forming the shape of a large building. At the top is an American flag blowing lightly in the wind. A cloudy sky and a large crane can be seen behind the building.
  • Building the Center
  • Construction blog
Construction update Dec. 2024: topping out

The Home Court at the Obama Presidential Center was topped out —which means the steel skeleton of the building is complete!

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A large concrete building under construction towers ahead. Burnt-orange scaffolding can be seen running from the bottom to the top, many stories high.
  • Building the Center
  • Construction blog
Construction update Nov. 2024: steel, stone, and art

Get a peek at the steel framing for the athletics facility, museum building stone installation and an update on the latest artwork.

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An exterior shot of Studio Yogi. A banner outside the building reads, “Studio Yogi.”
  • Community Engagement
  • Education
South Side yoga studio fosters wellness and community

Julia Perkins founded Studio Yogi to make wellness accessible for all. Here’s how!

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A young Black girl wearing a blue Project Exploration shirt raises her hand in a classroom lab setting as her instructor looks on.
  • Stories
  • Equality
Bridging the gap in STEM education for girls in Chicago

See how Project Exploration creates dynamic STEM learning opportunities for girls on the West Side of Chicago.

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A visual explanation of The Obama Foundation brand motif featuring lines, color, font, and symbols.
  • Building the Center
  • Education
Building on the past, looking ahead

As the Obama Presidential Center prepares to open its doors in 2026, our brand identity enters a new chapter.

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Two girl-serving leaders smile as they share notes during the Alliance’s Chicago convening. Both have medium dark skin tones and are wearing pink blazers with attendee credentials.
  • Equality
  • Community Engagement
Girls Opportunity Alliance brings together over 80 girl-serving leaders in Chicago

See how the Girls Opportunity Alliance brings together leaders from across Chicago for connection and capacity building.

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A group of young Black girls wearing dance leotards pose for a photo against a purple background.
  • Girls Opportunity Alliance
  • Watch
Girls Opportunity Alliance helps girls in Chicago gain greater access to the arts

See how Praize Productions, Inc. nurtures girls’ talent, self-expression, and life skills through performing arts.

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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
2024 year in review
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President Obama sits in a semi circle with Obama Scholars. All are dressed professionally and have a range of light to dark skin tones. Yellow and blue signs are in the background that read, “Obama Foundation Scholars.”
  • Defending Democracy
  • Virtual Event
Ways to embrace pluralism in your daily connections

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

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A Black woman wearing a blue sweatshirt and floral leggings holds a yoga pose. She is encircled by a group of adolescent Black girls wearing matching maroon shirts and holding the same pose. They are a range of light to dark skin tones.
  • Girls Opportunity Alliance
  • Youth
Girls Opportunity Alliance provides more than $1 million in support on International Day of the Girl

Learn how the Alliance is joining forces with 26 organizations serving adolescent girls in Chicago and around the world

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A gray stone installation climbs up the north and east faces of the Museum Building at the Obama Presidential Center. Blue tarp-wrapped escalator bases are seen through an opening that will eventually be clad in an art glass installation. A clear blue sky is in the background.
  • Building the Center
  • Construction blog
Construction update October 2024: Concrete is complete at the Obama Presidential Center

Concrete construction across the site is complete. The Sky Room and Oval Office are taking shape.

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An image of four people with a range of light to dark skin tones, reviewing and looking at the 3D model of the Obama Presidential Center.
  • Building the Center
  • Community Engagement
Voices of the community: shaping the Obama Presidential Center

Get to know the inspiring community members behind the Obama Presidential Center

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A closeup of Julie Mehretu’s glass installation, “Uprising of the Sun.”
  • First Look
  • The Arts
Art at the Obama Presidential Center

Discover over 20 art installations that will stimulate creativity and inspire people to bring change home.

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A group of students with medium-light to medium-dark skin tones, wearing khaki pants and a variety of hair styles, stand in front of a white building that reads “Mielle” and a graphic of a woman with long black hair on the wall.
  • Programs
  • The Arts
The 2023-2024 Futures Series Lineup

The Obama Foundation Futures Series exposes high school students to career pathways through intimate conversations with accomplished leaders.

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Former First Lady Michelle Obama is seated while holding a microphone and sporting long box braids. She is seated in front of signage that says “Futures Series” with the Obama Foundation logo.
  • Programs
  • The Arts
The 2022-2023 Futures Series Lineup

The Obama Foundation Futures Series exposes high school students to career pathways through intimate conversations with accomplished leaders.

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A rendering of the Library at the Obama Presidential Center. People of all ages and ranges of light to deep skin tones read books at different sections of the library.
  • First Look
  • Building the Center
Sneak peek: the Chicago Public Library at the Obama Presidential Center

This unique partnership is the first of its kind and will feature digital media spaces and educational resources for kids and adults.

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Addison, a young Black girl with a light skin tone, films with her camera along Lake Michigan in Chicago. She is wearing a black t-shirt, hoop earrings, and her hair is curly.
  • Watch
  • Girls Opportunity Alliance
Addison’s story

Watch how the Girls Opportunity Alliance supports girls through mentorship programs in Chicago.

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A group of three smiling girls with a range of light to medium skin tones run together on an outdoor court.
  • Girls Opportunity Alliance
  • Watch
Girls Opportunity Alliance helps girls' sports and leadership program expand to Chicago’s South Side

See how Girls in the Game is empowering girls through sports programming to develop their health, leadership, and life skills.

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A group of Black women and girls pose with a van wrapped with M.E.A.N. Girls Empowerment branding and images of adolescent Black girls. The group is holding a copy of Governor Prizker’s state proclamation recognizing Girls Health Matters Day.
  • Girls Opportunity Alliance
  • Illinois
How we're making girls' health a priority in Chicago

The Girls Opportunity Alliance supports M.E.A.N. Girls Empowerment's new Resource Van and the state of Illinois declares first Girls Health Matters Day.

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On a clear blue-sky day, President Obama stands in a hard hat and a brightly colored safety vest at the Obama Presidential construction site and signs a beam. A large group of construction workers with various skin tones also wearing safety clothing surround him.
  • Building the Center
  • Construction blog
Construction update June 2024: President Obama marks the completion of the Museum Building

The Museum Building at the Obama Presidential Center has reached its final height of 225 feet.

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  • Girls Opportunity Alliance
  • Michelle Obama
Girls Opportunity Alliance announces $500,000 commitment to empower girls in Chicago

Find out how 14 organizations will expand their programing and impact

Learn more
A low angle shot shows workers on an orange basket lift affixing a panel of “Tapestry” stone to the lower west face of the Museum Building. A cloudy sunny sky is in the background.
  • Building the Center
  • Stories
Construction update May 2024: The Obama Presidential Center takes shape

Check out the latest construction update at the Obama Presidential Center.

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A group of high school students with a range of light to deep skin tones pose around Gallerist Easy Otabo and artist Michael C. Thorpe. In the background, a monitor displays the Obama Foundation rising sun logo and reads, “Obama Foundation.”
  • Youth
  • The Arts
Chicago high school students meet artists on Obama Foundation Futures Series field trip

See how the students explored expression and possibilities at EXPO Chicago.

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President Obama is smiling wearing sunglasses, a white hardhat with the Obama Foundation rising sun logo, gloves, and a bright orange safety vest over a long dress coat. He is holding a cup of coffee and standing next to a white woman wearing a neon yellow construction coat, hard hat, and goggles. They are walking in front of three other people with a range of light to deep skin tones wearing orange safety vests and white hard hats. They are all walking in an unfinished building with scaffolding in the background.
  • Building the Center
  • Barack Obama
December 8th 2023 – construction update

See the latest photos and stay up-to-date on the building process.

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A rendering of the outside front of Home Court from Stony Island Avenue. It is daylight in the picture. Home Court at the Obama Presidential Center is a large silver and glass building, with large rectangular windows covering the majority of the front of the building and two large inverted silver triangles of metal cladding interrupting the glass on the side. In front of the building are green shrubs and trees planted along a pedestrian walkway. To the left of the building is a large patch of grass surrounded by a pedestrian walkway. To the right of the building are tall green trees. On the pedestrian pathways are several people walking, standing, and sitting. There is a bicycle rack on the pedestrian walkway.
  • First Look
  • Building the Center
NBA-size courts, gymnasium and community space to open in 2026

See the plans for the 45,000-square-foot multipurpose athletic and events facility coming to the Obama Presidential Center.

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President Obama tilts his head upwards along with out-of-focus onlookers. A digital screen shows something out of focus behind him.
  • Watch
  • Building the Center
See President Obama’s reaction to the museum’s newest (and largest!) exhibit

Get a sneak peek at a four-story digital wall that will celebrate the “Power of Words” and pay homage to the first digital President.

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Kori Coleman, a Black woman with a deep skin tone, stands in the middle of a four person string quartet. They are a range of medium to deep skin tones and are holding a viola, violin, and cello. All are wearing shades of brown. Credit: Seed Lynn
  • The Arts
  • Leaders
Obama Leader amplifies the music of Black composers

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.

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