Equality

There are three women on the right side of the image and three women on the left side of the image. In the center of the image, Michelle Obama is hugging a woman and facing the camera. Michelle Obama has curly hair and is wearing several rings. The woman she is hugging is facing opposite the camera – we cannot see her face – she has short curly hair and is wearing a beige sweater and black pants. In the background, several women with a range of light to deep skin tones and ages speak to one another. On the wall of the room is a poster that reads, “Girls Opportunity Alliance.” The poster has a border with short perpendicular lines in pink and light blue with a dark blue background.
  • Girls Opportunity Alliance
  • Global Reach
Five women we're celebrating for International Women's Day

Meet five women making a difference with the help of the Girls Opportunity Alliance

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Nick Kennedy, a college-age Native American young man, stands in between a Canadian and American flag on flag poles. He is wearing a brown suit and a white name tag around his neck.
  • Voyagers
  • USA
Obama-Chesky Voyager helps preserve his Indigenous culture

Nick Kennedy, an Obama-Chesky Voyager, is advocating for the preservation of Indigenous culture.

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Rebecca speaks at Harvard Kennedy School affinity celebration for disabled graduates. She is wearing silver hoop earrings, a purple dress, and a black blazer. She is sitting in front of a red background that reads, “Affinity Celebration for Graduates.”
  • Alumni
  • The Obama Administration
Meet the Obama alum championing disability rights for all

Meet the Obama alum who is championing disability rights for all.

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Tom Twongyeirwe Junior stands in front of a board room full of Black people or a range of skin tones. He is wearing a blue button up and striped pants. A sign in the background reads, The Universal Coalition of Affirming Africans Uganda.
  • Leaders
  • Africa
Obama Leader fights for LGBTQ+ rights in Uganda

Progress for LGBTQ+ people in Uganda has been hindered by the current cultural and political landscape.

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Two women with light medium skin tones walk in between a Black man with a deep skin tone. He is wearing glasses and a hat. All three are wearing Obama Foundation T-shirt’s and holding Pride Month flags. In the background is more signs and people.
  • Educational Material
  • Your Voice
Take action to support LGBTQ+ youth

This Pride Month and every month, we are committed to uplifting and supporting the LGBTQ+ community.

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Michelle Obama, her eyes watering with tears and her mouth pursed, sits in a room full of people. Bright spotlights are on the back wall. Everyone looks dressed in formal suit attire.
  • Presidential History
  • Barack Obama
15 years later: A look back at the “More Perfect Union” speech

When then-Senator Obama delivered a speech titled “A More Perfect Union” 15 years ago today, it became known simply as the “speech on race.”

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Ireen Chikatula poses for a photo with 11 teenage students. They have a deep skin tone and some are wearing school uniforms. Ireen Chikatula holds a sign that reads, “Because girls matter!”
  • Leaders
  • Africa
Meet the Obama Leader bringing opportunity to rural Zambia's women

Learn how Ireen is improving the livelihood of women and girls in Zambia’s rural communities.

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Emma Minimbi, a woman with a medium deep skin tone, stands behind a podium at the United Nations Development Programme Stakeholders Consultation on Sorcery Accusations Related Violence at Loloata Island. She has a braided bun and is wearing a face mask under her chin. In the background is signage that reads, “Initiated by the European Union and the United Nations and United Nations Development Programme.”
  • Leaders
  • Asia-Pacific
Obama Leader stands up against domestic violence in Papua New Guinea

See how Emma uses the law and the power of community to help eradicate gender-based violence.

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Devin Hampton, a Black man with a light medium skin tone, holds a closed-lip smile. He has short black hair and is wearing a gray suit jacket and white shirt. In the background is an office space with plants.
  • Sustainability
  • Alumni
Obama alum brings diversity to the clean energy space

Meet the Obama alum who is working to create new opportunities for Black and Brown professionals in the clean energy space.

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A woman with a medium-deep skin tone wearing an orange, gray, and yellow construction jacket and helmet looks up toward the sky while on a construction site. There are cranes in the background.
  • Building the Center
  • Chicago
Meet the local talent building the Obama Presidential Center

Learn how we're getting local residents involved in the building trades.

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This picture shows a man and a woman with medium skin tones crouching behind a tree outside, with a pink bicycle behind them.
  • Girls Opportunity Alliance
  • Education
Hay’s story

Read Hay’s story from Vietnam.

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A woman with medium-deep skin, long hair, eye shadow, and red lipstick lightly smiles. She has a camo military shirt on, a belt and jeans on. The setting is a classroom in ok condition.
  • Girls Opportunity Alliance
  • Education
Laxmi’s story

Laxmi’s story

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In this picture a lady with a deep skin tone wearing a teal shirt and a light blue dress with flower patterns is shown sitting on a tree stump.
  • Girls Opportunity Alliance
  • Watch
Rebecca’s story

Rebecca’s story

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Crowd surrounding The white house lit up by colors representing pride
  • Presidential History
  • Alumni
Justice like a thunderbolt

June 26, 2015 marked an unforgettable day in the Obama Presidency. The Supreme Court ruled on marriage equality, President Obama paid tribute to Reverend Pinckney and his eight parishioners in Charleston, and the White House shone with pride for all to see

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A woman with a medium deep skin tone smiles. She has grey-streaked black hair, glasses, red lipstick, a pearl necklace, and is wearing a white suit jacket with white accents on the collar.
  • Alumni
  • The Obama Administration
Taking up the baton: Jocelyn Frye

Meet One Obama Alum Who is Leading the Fight for Women's Equality

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President Obama on stage taking a group photo with people who have a light golden skin tone wearing formal clothing
  • Barack Obama
  • Watch
Ten years of DACA

On June 15, 2012, President Obama announced DACA, an executive action to lift the shadow of deportation for young people who came to the United States as undocumented immigrants.

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A young Black boy reaches out to touch President Obama's hair. They are in the oval office and a two other adults and one child stand to the side.
  • Barack Obama
  • Presidential History
President Obama reunites with the young man from one of his favorite photos

Then five-year-old Jacob Philadelphia is graduating high school as part of the class of 2022. Watch his reunion with President Obama.

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Activists In Chicago Protest Police Brutality In Death Of George Floyd
  • MBK Alliance
  • Youth
Curbing youth violence, creating safe communities: A nationwide call to action

I am proud to announce that the MBK Alliance is ramping up our efforts to support our MBK Network. The start of these efforts is our nationwide call to action, Freedom Summer 2022. Communities across the country often experience an uptick in youth violence

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missing
  • MBK Alliance
  • Youth
MBKA: Eight Years of Impact

The My Brother’s Keeper Alliance began as a call to action for the nation to address the persistent opportunity gaps boys and young men of color face and to ensure all young people can reach their full potential.

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A black and white photo shows three airmen seated in a military truck in conversation.
  • Building the Center
  • Changemakers
Preserving Black history: The HistoryMakers

It all started with an interview with Tuskegee Airman Colonel William R. Thompson.

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NACA Inspired Schools Network
  • MBK Alliance
  • Youth
Collaboration Is The Best Way Forward

Change, particularly long-lasting, sustainable change, can never happen in a vacuum.

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Activists In Chicago Protest Police Brutality In Death Of George Floyd
  • Stories
Obama Foundation statement on anti-racism and equity

Read the Obama Foundation's statement on anti-racism and equity.

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The Obama Foundation Logo
  • Stories
  • Girls Opportunity Alliance
Ways to support women and girls in Afghanistan

Through our work with the Girls Opportunity Alliance, we are committed to supporting girls to have access to the education they need. We hope you'll take action to support them however you can.

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A group of women with medium skin tones sits in a circle on the ground while books lay in front of them
  • Stories
  • Girls Opportunity Alliance
The pandemic represents a crisis for India's girls. Meet some of the organizations working to support them.

Learn about organizations in the Girls Opportunity Alliance community that are helping girls in India to keep learning safely during the pandemic.

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Veterans of the freedom riders movements pictured both then and now
  • Stories
Reflecting on the courage and clear purpose of the Freedom Riders, 60 years later

This month marks 60 years since the original 13 Freedom Riders—among them, a 21-year-old John Lewis—set out on two buses from Washington, D.C. to challenge the segregation of public transportation.

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A women with light skin tone stands outisde in yellow sunglasses while holding a pride flag at the pride parade along with other women ranging from light to deep medium skin tones
  • Stories
Celebrating Pride at the Obama Foundation

The Obama Foundation and one hundred of our closest neighbors showed up loud and proud to march in the annual Chicago Pride Parade last Sunday.

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First Lady Michelle Obama hugs a student following a lesson plan about girls' leadership and self-esteem in support of the Let Girls Learn initiative, at the Peace Corps Training Center in Kakata, Liberia, June 27, 2016. (Official White House Photo by Aman
  • Stories
  • Michelle Obama
Mrs. Obama shares a message on International Women's Day

In honor of International Women's Day, Mrs. Obama sent the message below to the Foundation's full email list

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The Obama Foundation Logo
  • Stories
Audacious goals: Diversity and inclusion at the Obama Foundation

By Jamie Clare Flaherty, Director of Strategic Initiatives, Obama Foundation

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