Grand opening sweepstakes winner reflects on a historic day in Jackson Park

Chicago native Michele Sullen shares her reflections after winning tickets to the Obama Presidential Center Grand Opening Ceremony.

Jonathan Sullen, a 16-year-old Black boy with a light skintone, smiles as he stands in between white chairs at the Obama Presidential Center grand opening ceremony. He is wearing a tan suit and a blue shirt. A cobalt blue monitor in the background reads, “Welcome to the Obama Presidential Center Grand Opening Ceremony.”

More than 60,000 people entered for a chance to win tickets to the Obama Presidential Center Grand Opening Ceremony in Chicago. Michele Sullen of Liberty Township, Ohio, won and attended the June 18 ceremony with her son, Jonathan, a 16-year-old high school student, and her 84-year-old mother, Melvina. Below, Sullen reflected on her Chicago roots, her family's connection to President Obama's legacy, and what the Center means to her.

A low selfie of Michele and Jonathan Sullen. Michele is a Black woman with a medium skin tone and shoulder length curly black hair. Jonathan has a light skin tone and cornrows. The sky is bright with clouds.

  • Why did you decide to enter the sweepstakes?

    I thought my son needed this experience. My husband and I always try to provide him with opportunities that will broaden his horizons and inspire him. As parents, it’s always bigger than us. Most of us aim to give our children experiences that encourage them to dream bigger and see new possibilities.

  • What does the Obama Presidential Center mean to you?

    The Obama Presidential Center is a bridge between the past and to the future. Chicago was one of the main destinations of people during the Great Migration—people who came with little more than faith, hope, and determination to make their way and build a better life. The Obama (Presidential) Center is a testament to those aspirations and what grew from them. From those journeys emerged not just the nation’s first Black president, but a story of possibility that continues to inspire people around the world.

Jonathan Sullen, a 16-year-old Black boy with a light skin tone, stands in between his mother and grandmother. Both are Black women with medium skin tones. All are dressed professionally.

  • What will you carry with you from this experience after June 18?

    I hope it gives me renewed energy. Life often tests us, and moments like this remind us to keep believing in what’s possible. Sharing it with my son makes it even more meaningful. I pray he walks away with a greater appreciation for the potential he already has and an understanding that character, education, perseverance, and service can open doors that felt impossible.

Jonathan Sullen, a 16-year-old Black boy with a light skin tone, smiles as he stands in front of white chairs at the Obama Presidential Center grand opening ceremony. He is wearing a tan suit and a blue shirt. The Obama Foundation Museum Building is in the background. People of a range of light and dark skin tones are in the background.

  • Tell us about yourself. Where does your commitment to public service come from?

    I am a native Chicagoan, so this moment is particularly special to me! I was born and raised in Chicago, a product of Chicago Public Schools. I went to Mrs. Obama's high school alma mater, Whitney M. Young Magnet High School, so I consider it a feather in my cap to have followed in her footsteps there. I worked for Chicago Public Schools for just about 20 years, and also did a brief stint with the Chicago Police Department.

    My formative years were very much entrenched in service. Before we could leave home on Saturday mornings to do anything, we had to listen to Operation PUSH on the radio. At around 15 or 16, I attended a Martin Luther King Jr. commemorative service at Operation PUSH, an annual event honoring Dr. King's legacy, and that's when my volunteering began. Looking back, the impulse to serve was probably in my DNA, but it was nurtured by my mother who instilled in me that we each have a responsibility to lift others and give back to our communities.