Common Hope. Uncommon stories.

At the 2018 Obama Foundation Summit, we asked attendees to take portraits with each other and to share with us the story of how they were building a better future (in 10 words or less!). In some cases, they shared their story together and in others they share their own. But as you look at all the different faces in the gallery below, you’ll see that they are all united by a common hope: to build meaningful change in their communities.

In this picture, a woman with a medium skin tone is forming a hand gesture with another lady with a medium-deep skin tone while facing the camera.

“ Eradicating sexual violence because we deserve better.”

–Yaritza Garcia, Phoenix, AZ & Aalayah Sanders, Columbia, SC

“ I’ve dedicated myself to inspiring, empowering, and connecting young leaders.”

–President Obama, Chicago, IL

“ I amplify young voices that the world must hear.”

–Dave Eggers, San Francisco, CA
In this picture, President Obama wearing a black suit and gray shirt poses beside a man with a light skin tone wearing a black suit and a white shirt, while smiling at the camera.
In this picture, a man and woman with different skin tones pose smiling in front of a black backsplash facing forward at the camera. The man has a medium skin tone, while the woman has a light skin tone.

“ Revitalizing our city and nation for our children.”

–Louise McCurry, Chicago, IL & Al DeBonnet, Chicago, IL

“ Starting schools to raise happy and thriving girls.”

–Martin Rodriguez, Montreal, Canada & Christine Renaud, Montreal, Canada
This picture shows a family of four with medium-skin tones smiling and looking towards the camera, with a dark gray background.
In this portrait, two men with different skin tones are shown smiling and posing facing toward the camera with a black background.

“ By training and inspiring young people ethical leadership with skills.”

–Zedilson Almeida, Luanda, Angola & Andrew Mukose, Kampala, Uganda

“ No home should not mean no healthcare.”

–Azalfa Lateef, Columbia, SC & Umema Khan, Columbia, SC
Two women with light-medium skin tones and long black hair hold hands while smiling at each other in front of a black backsplash.
In this picture, two women with deep skin tones are shown smiling toward the camera in front of a black backsplash. One woman has a red sweater, black pants, and glasses, while the other has a yellow drawcord waist shirt dress and black pants.

“ We are building a generation of transformative African leaders.”

–Linda Kamau, Nairobi, Kenya & Caren Wakoli, Nairobi, Kenya

“ Working together to identify a common goal and take action.”

–Cheryl Hughes, Chicago, IL & Darius Ballinger, Chicago, IL
This portrait shows a man with a medium-deep skin tone wearing a black shirt and smiling toward the camera. Next to him is a lady with a light skin tone wearing a gray sweater, glasses, and a necklace, smiling toward the camera.
In this portrait, two women with different skin tones, one deep and one medium-deep, are shown smiling and posing toward the camera.

“ A peaceful and inclusive world where everyone's potential is realized.”

–Marianne Akumu, Kampala, Uganda & Jamia Jowers, Chicago, IL

“ Creating healthy environments where everyone & everything is treated with dignity.”

–Quincy Walker, Albuquerque, NM & Mahpiya Black-Elk, Albuquerque, NM
Two men with medium skin tones are gripping each other's hand, while posing and smiling toward the camera.
In this picture, a man and woman with a light skin tone are shown sitting down on white chairs smiling and gesturing a hand sign toward the camera in front of a black backsplash.

“ By opening one door to opportunity, we open many more.”

–Melissa Malzkuhn, Washington, DC & Alex Smith, London, United Kingdom

“ We work together.”

–Juanita Butler, Chicago, IL & Antonio Davis, Chicago, IL
This picture shows a man and a woman with deep skin tones smiling toward the camera. The man is sitting in a wheelchair with an earpiece attached to his ear while the woman leans in and hugs him.
This picture shows two women with different skin tones dressed in business casual posing toward the camera. One lady has a light-medium skin tone and wears a white shirt underneath a burgundy suit and pants. The other lady has a deep skin tone and wears a black shirt under a black suit and burgundy pants.

“ Harnessing the power of place to prevent and resolve conflict.”

–Fatima Zaman, London, United Kingdom

“ Building a peaceful, inclusive world where everyones potential is realized.”

–Marianne Akumu, Kampala, Uganda

“ Expanding our interventions to support girls involved in gang violence.”

–Noel Pinnock, Houston, TX & Japlan "Jazz" Allen, Chicago, IL
In this picture, two people with deep skin tones are shown smiling toward the camera who wear business casual and business professional clothes.
This picture shows a man with a deep skin tone and a man with a medium skin tone posing and smiling towards the camera.

“ Coming together through love, inclusivity, engagement, and community.”

–Moussa Kondo, Bamako, Mali & Harry Grammer, Los Angeles, CA

“ Leading with a serving heart.”

–Jenne Myers, Chicago, IL & Anna Valencia, Chicago, IL
In this picture, women with light skin tones are shown wearing business casual and posing towards the camera.
This picture shows two women with different skin tones smiling and posing toward the camera.

“ Providing equal access to healthy food.”

–Erika Allen, Chicago, IL & Connie Spreen, Chicago, IL

“ Building relationships and breaking barriers to prevent stereotypes.”

–Jaquan Riley, Columbia, SC & Nick Cousar, Columbia, SC
This picture shows two men with deep skin tones wearing button-up shirts, shaking hands, and smiling toward the camera.
This picture shows two women with different skin tones grasping each other's hands and smiling at the camera. One lady's skin tone is deep, while the other's is light.

“ Celebrating the joy of faith, family, and friends.”

–Barbara Lumpkin, Chicago, IL & Ariane Robbins, Columbia, SC

“ Working together to empower youth.”

–Jazmine Reyes, Phoenix, AZ & Ivan Bascon, Phoenix, AZ
This picture shows a man and a woman with light-medium skin tones and dark hair holding each other while smiling toward the camera.
This picture shows two men with different skin tones, one deep and one light, with their hands behind their backs posing toward the camera.

“ Building bonds across communities. Learn from each other; never stop.”

–Sterling Gilmore, Chicago, IL & Jeff McCarter, Chicago, IL

“ We incrementally work for change in the human condition.”

–Sherman Wright, Chicago, IL & Richard Tolliver, Chicago, IL
This picture shows two men with deep skin tones wearing business casual clothes smiling toward the camera.
This picture shows a man with a medium skin tone and a man with a deep skin tone with dark hair sitting in white chairs smiling toward the camera.

“ Helping young people gain access to educational opportunities.”

–Rahmatullah Hamraz, Kabul, Afghanistan & Stanley Ndambakuwa, Lalapanzi, Zimbabwe

“ Supporting the OPC in Jackson Park!”

–Candice Washington, Chicago, IL & Erin Adams, Chicago, IL
In this picture, two women with different skin tones, one deep and one light, are shown smiling and posing forward at the camera.
A man and woman with a deep skin tone smile while embracing each other with one hand.

“ Changing the world by combining arts and environmental policy.”

–Amanda S. Walker-Hall, Chicago, IL

“ By pressing for change without collapsing.”

–Jamal Spraggins, Chicago, IL

“ Raising and educating the next leaders of Chicago.”

–LeShonne Segura, Chicago, IL & Adrian Segura, Chicago, IL
A woman with a medium-light skin tone holds hands with a man with a medium skin tone and smile facing toward the camera.
Two men with light skin tones laugh and smile while wearing plaid dress shirts and jeans.

“ We're inspired to take action.”

–David Leggett, Columbia, SC & Daniel Branham, Columbia, SC

“ Promoting higher education for lower income students.”

–Jacklyn Nguyen, Phoenix, AZ & Aria Hueso, Phoenix, AZ
This picture shows two women with medium-light skin tones and long dark hair sitting on white chairs posing at the camera.
A man and woman with different skin tones wearing business professional clothes smile toward the camera.

“ By working to create a collaborative community.”

–John Atkinson, Burr Ridge, IL & Attallah "Tia" Wilson, Chicago, IL

“ Building connections across all lines of difference through love.”

–Bethany Molitor, Washington, DC & Michelle Molitor, Washington, DC
Two women with medium skin tones hold hands and smile toward the camera.
Two women with medium skin tones smile and hold hands with each other while dressed in business casual sweaters.

“ Through collective liberation.”

–Koketso Moeti, Johannesburg, South Africa & Tiana Epps-Johnson, Chicago, IL

“ By working on gender equality to make the world better”

–Seblewengel Tekalign, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

“ Like pieces on a chessboard, I understand my unique role.”

–Robert Katende, Kampala, Uganda
In this picture, a man and woman with deep skin tones are embracing each other with an arm wrapped around the other smiling forward facing, the camera.
This picture shows two women with light skin tones with their fists balled up in the air posing, toward the camera while embracing each other with one arm around the other.

“ Working together across differences.”

–Andrea Saenz, Chicago, IL

“ I work through arts and culture to support equitable participation.”

–Jane M. Hussein, Chicago, IL

“ By collaborating with grassroots organizations to create more effective programming.”

–Cynthia Gonzalez, Phoenix, AZ

“ I mobilize communities to call for environmental action.”

–Hong Hoang, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Two ladies with medium-light skin tones and long brown hair, have one arm wrapped around the other posing and smiling at the camera.
Two young-looking women with deep skin tones and long dark hair, are shown holding the fist in the air posing and smiling at the camera.

“ Black women deserve respect and should see the world.”

–Ashley Jackson, Chicago, IL & Kieanji Williams, Chicago, IL

“ Connecting with and listening to my community.”

–Ana Garcia, Columbia, SC

“ By mobilizing and inspiring others.”

–Lendale Vazquez-Martinez, Columbia, SC
Two women with medium skin tones are shown with an arm wrapped around the other smiling, facing forward at the camera while wearing business attire.