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Our roots matter: the power of place

Where we come from can shape who we are and what we value more than we may know. Whether it’s our geography or our ancestry, our culture, or our beliefs, our roots determine how we grow. We’ll close our time together by exploring how specific spaces and places have been at the center of our speakers’ lives and work.

Video Highlights

Obama Foundation Fellow and Founder of Anseye Pou Ayiti Nedgine Paul Deroly

Obama Fellow Nedgine Paul Deroly hosts the closing session exploring the power of place and how our roots matter, sharing how her identity as a proud daughter of Haiti shapes her work.

Advocate and Actor Diane Guerrero and WBEZ Host Jenn White

Jenn White, a current host at WBEZ and the voice behind their remarkable podcast, “Making Obama,” will be interviewing immigration advocate and actor Diane Guerrero in a powerful conversation about honoring and respecting our roots.

Obama Foundation Scholar Fatima Zaman

Obama Foundation Scholar Fatima Zaman shares her moving personal story about encountering violent extremism and her commitment to counter it.

Spoken Word Performance by National Youth Poet Laureate Patricia Frazier

Bronzeville native Pat Frazier lifts up stories and experiences from the South Side of Chicago, performing “71st and Wabash” and “I am Windy City.”

Chicago Resident and 826 Participant Esperanza Rivera

Chicago resident and high school sophomore Esperanza Rivera talks about the impact the writing academy 826 has made on her life, before introducing 826 founder and author, Dave Eggers, and President Barack Obama.

Author Dave Eggers in Conversation With President Barack Obama

President Obama is interviewed by author, publisher and philanthropist Dave Eggers. Born in Chicago, Eggers has turned literary success into social change, launching a national network of literary tutoring academies called 826, as well as the human rights

Obama Foundation Fellow Nedgine Paul Deroly and Obama Foundation Ceo David Simas Close the Summit

Obama Foundation Fellow Nedgine Paul Deroly closes out the 2018 Summit with Foundation CEO David Simas. They reflect on the inspiring experience of bringing young leaders from all around the world together, in Chicago.

Updates

I’ve always tried to look for that around me—who here has done what I want to do? And how can I also do that, with my own experience?

Diane Guerrero

Reimagining the South Side: The Obama Presidential Center

The South Side of Chicago is the place where President Obama first began his career in public service, the place where First Lady Michelle Obama was born, and the place where they, together, raised their family. We’re excited to bring the Obama Presidenti

The South Side of Chicago is the place where President Obama first began his career in public service, the place where First Lady Michelle Obama was born, and the place where they, together, raised their family. We’re excited to bring the Obama Presidential Center to the South Side--the place they call home.

A woman, with a warm neutral skin tone, shoulder length blonde and brown highlight hair, and formal clothing speaking into a headset, with her face on a blurry screen behind her

Obama Foundation Scholar Fatima Zaman shares her moving personal story about encountering violent extremism and her commitment to counter it.

A woman with dark brown skin tone wearing formal clothes speaking into a headset on stage with Obama.org on the screen behind her

Young woman stands at center stage with arms outstretched before her.

You feel a greater sense of urgency about wrongs that need to be righted.

President Obama

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A day in the life: Harry Grammer

Obama Fellow Harry Grammer is working to reduce recidivism rates for justice-involved youth in LA.

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A day in the life: King Gyan

Africa Leader King Gyan is developing the future generation through sport.

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