In-depth stories
![Elpida Kokkota, a woman with a light skin tone, holds a closed lip smile. She has long black hair and is wearing red lipstick, bracelets on both arms, a white shirt, and floral skirt.](http://images.ctfassets.net/l7h59hfnlxjx/3iRpeagzhjufY6DO3KgpnO/c1f741473deafbfd1c7fa0a9ab0d6b96/ACS_0030.png?q=75&w=1014&fm=)
- Leaders
- Changemakers
More than 140,000 women across 155 countries have educational and entrepreneurial opportunities, thanks to the 2023 Obama Leaders.
Learn more![A professional headshot of Ashlee Davis. She is standing in front of a glass window with a city skyline behind her. Ashlee has a medium deep complexion and shortly cropped black hair. She is wearing a blue plaid suit and a blue tie. She is smiling in the image.](http://images.ctfassets.net/l7h59hfnlxjx/56lNNyZIvRLnraYGkb6nDw/49f6a7d84e1aa581af8a01af7c0ab420/Ashlee_Davis_AB_16-9.jpeg?q=75&w=1014&fm=webp)
- Equality
- Alumni
Get to know several LGBTQIA+ Obama alumni building power in their communities
Learn more- Equality
- Alumni
Get to know several LGBTQIA+ Obama alumni building power in their communities
Learn more![Headshot of Dylan Orr. Dylan has an olive complexion with dark wavy hair. He is wearing a dark gray suit with a striped tie. In the image he is standing with his arms crossed on his chest. He has a wedding ring on his left finger.](http://images.ctfassets.net/l7h59hfnlxjx/2gVWBAI3UXdRzTzNoDUmFO/6b987cb271e889466864907018f46eca/Dylan_Head_Shot_16-9.jpg?q=75&w=1014&fm=webp)
- Equality
- Alumni
Get to know several LGBTQIA+ Obama alumni building power in their communities
Learn more![A candid shot of Pamela Karlan. Pamela is standing outside in front of a large crowd of people. Pamela has pale skin and brown hair cut to her shoulders. She is wearing round glasses, a pearl necklace, and a dark blue blazer and shirt. She is smiling into the camera.](http://images.ctfassets.net/l7h59hfnlxjx/3iE1VPDSnIuqSVUQyG658z/fd0c93af34820d24631c6a28e6ba6836/image__1___1_.png?q=75&w=1014&fm=)
- Equality
- Alumni
Get to know several LGBTQIA+ Obama alumni building power in their communities
Learn more![Barack Obama sits on a red and tan couch holding the hand of a woman (his mother-in-law Marian Robinson). They are both dressed formally, in suit attire. The two appear to be watching something intently.](http://images.ctfassets.net/l7h59hfnlxjx/3bKu6rDJdONPersxc2hRIv/4668c9e038431e3fb7757c5bfc7af33d/20081104_Chicago_IL_ElectionNight1323-3.jpg?q=75&w=1014&fm=webp)
- Presidential History
- Barack Obama
Relive the 2008 election through the eyes and words of those who lived it below.
Learn more![A man with a light medium toned and a mix of white and grey hair, works on a wooden piece of art. His face is covered by a plastic face mask.](http://images.ctfassets.net/l7h59hfnlxjx/3NuynnlZxisDmUqOXBp1wI/d2ec9151d1305c4d44a5d07fffea6c25/RichardHunt_ShotBy_LawrenceAgyei_For_ObamaFoundation-16-scaled.jpg?q=75&w=1014&fm=webp)
- The Arts
- Building the Center
World-renowned sculptor and artist Richard Hunt was born and raised in the Woodlawn neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago.
Learn more![Pastor Tracey Lee](http://images.ctfassets.net/l7h59hfnlxjx/6WRd7M7oZPGI9fpL3T8Xvt/4158475d793f1040c49205e3e2b7d800/Pastor-Tracey-Lee-scaled-e1601954427325.jpg?q=75&w=1014&fm=webp)
- Chicago
- Community Engagement
During an especially grueling summer, we spent a month capturing a glimpse of Tracey Lee’s day-to-day life as a violence interrupter, a pastor, and a supermom
Learn more![missing](http://images.ctfassets.net/l7h59hfnlxjx/2Ie5Yb0K7yThZsom5SyYnU/c20a441a672096b17c73d4c55757435f/OF111818JS_1213.jpg?q=75&w=1014&fm=webp)
- Stories
- Chicago
In this opening session, hear from speakers like Janelle Monáe, Olympic fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad, Cubs President Theo Epstein, and Obama Foundation program participants who are bound together by a shared hope
Learn more![A group of people with a range of light to deep skin tones walk in front of a trolley. They are all wearing gray shirts with the Obama Foundation rising sun logo and holding up Obama Foundation signage.](http://images.ctfassets.net/l7h59hfnlxjx/69Ks716I1n5Sr5Qrgggz9S/b11cfc1c8fdec5cb2f501f1b8fea73ff/annual-report-2017-card.png?q=75&w=1014&fm=)
![The word "2017" in bold letters with each letter filled with a photo of happy, jubilant people, hands raised or clapping.](http://images.ctfassets.net/l7h59hfnlxjx/tjsozbAzh4L8v8IiCMyK4/93f9875435b098ba850946bb7a575417/2017frame_.jpg?q=75&w=1014&fm=webp)
- Chicago
- Global Reach
The Obama Foundation hit the ground running this year -- from launching a Fellowship program, to convening hundreds of civic innovators from around the world in Chicago, to hosting trainings for young leaders across the country.
Learn more![An illustration of four people with a range of light to deep skin tones lifting one another up on top of a paper plane. The background is pink.](http://images.ctfassets.net/l7h59hfnlxjx/3mmwnkKbN2XIHW0mNldBIy/f5190279291cc4bd449005400211ea2c/OF_NEWSLETTER_Gritti_01.jpg?q=75&w=1014&fm=webp)
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