Youth

A group of high school students with a range of light to deep skin tones pose around Gallerist Easy Otabo and artist Michael C. Thorpe. In the background, a monitor displays the Obama Foundation rising sun logo and reads, “Obama Foundation.”
  • The Arts
  • Futures Series
Chicago High School students meet artists on Obama Foundation Futures Series field trip

See how the students explored expression and possibilities at EXPO Chicago.

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missing
  • Girls Opportunity Alliance
  • Programs
In the News: The Girls Opportunity Alliance

Learn more about how the Girls Opportunity Alliance is working to empower and educate girls around the world

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On the South Lawn, President Obama walks in the middle of a group of young men. All have a range of light to deep skin tones. They are wearing a mix of casual and professional attire.
  • Watch
  • MBK Alliance
Meet two men whose lives were changed by My Brother's Keeper

Get to know two young men carrying forward the legacy of MBK

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President Obama stands in the middle of young leaders at MBK Rising! All men are dressed professionally and have a range of light to deep skin tones.
  • MBK Alliance
  • Presidential History
My Brother’s Keeper Alliance celebrates 10 years of making a difference for Black youth

Take a look back at some of the program's most inspiring moments.

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missing
  • MBK Alliance
  • The Arts
Celebrate Black History Month with our reading list for young leaders

The My Brother’s Keeper Alliance released a Black History Month reading list for young leaders

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  • Voyagers
  • Changemakers
Get to know the 2023-2025 Voyagers cohort

Meet recipients of the Obama-Chesky Voyager Scholarship for Public Service or learn how you can apply to be in the next cohort!

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Daniel Fairley II, a Black man with a light skin tone smiles at the camera. He has short black hair and glasses. He is wearing a light purple blazer and a dark purple hoodie.
  • Alumni
  • Leaders
How a former White House intern and Obama Leader is making a difference today

Meet an Obama Leader supporting Virginians in need.

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Ziad Ahmed, a man with a medium skin tone, smiles at the camera. He has black hair and is wearing a red patterned jacket. He is sitting on an apple box. The background is brown.
  • Leaders
  • USA
Obama Leader promotes inclusivity and amplification of young voices

Learn how Ziad Ahmed built a successful company by listening to the next generation.

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DeKevious Wilson, a Black man with a deep skin tone, looks off camera as he stands in front of a home. He has a salt and pepper afro and beard. He is wearing a Becoming a Man t-shirt and denim jacket.
  • Health & Wellbeing
  • Scholars
Obama Scholar advocates for youth mental health

DeKevious Wilson strengthens youth mental health through policy work.

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Brandon Breaux, a Black man with a deep skin tone, stands over five seated students. On the table is an iPad and illustrations. He is wearing a mint beanie. Space art is on the wall in the background.
  • First Look
  • The Arts
An ode to Chicago: The Obama Presidential Center mural

Artist Brandon Breaux and Dyett High School students showcase the power of culture and community.

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A woman with a deep skin tone wears black framed glasses with silver droplet earrings and bracelet as she serves food with clear gloves on. She is wearing a purple shirt. The receiver is a young girl with a deep skin tone and medium length straight black hair. She is holding up a plate and is wearing a baby blue mask and gray shirt. Along the table are three trays filled with food and vegetables.
  • Chicago
  • Community Engagement
Obama Foundation's summer lunch program serves 100,000 Chicago kids

We partner with Local Lunchbox to provide thousands of meals to our young people over the summer months.

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President Obama poses for a photo with Guitars Over Guns participants. He is surrounded by 17 others with a range of light to deep skin tones.
  • MBK Alliance
  • The Arts
President Obama surprises MBK Alliance summer grantees at Chicago music studio

Learn more about Nathan, his experience at Guitars Over Guns, and his plans for the future.

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President Obama stands in the middle of a recording studio. He is surrounded by 15 other young people with a range of light to deep skin tones. President Obama has his arms crossed and is wearing black slacks and a gray button down shirt.
  • MBK Alliance
  • Chicago
Highlights from President Obama’s May 2023 Chicago trip

See how President Obama is supporting youth and making a difference for young men.

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Raven Smith, a Black woman with a medium skin tone, smiles at the camera. She is wearing a long sleeved white shirt and red plaid pants. Her arms are crossed and she has long black hair.
  • The Arts
  • Chicago
Chicago youth spreads city pride one t-shirt at a time

Young Chicagoan Raven Smith created the t-shirt company Straight From The GO – All Good Things From ChicaGO to dispel negative perceptions about violence in Chicago

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Leah Whitmoyer sorts olives with another woman with a medium skin tone and black hair on an olive farm in Taounate, Morocco. Three others stand in the background.
  • Sustainability
  • Voyagers
Voyager Scholarship recipient studies food and water insecurity in the United States

Voyager to tackle food and water insecurity during Summer Voyage

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Mustika Wijaya stands with the Wekeke village chief and religious leader at the site of Solar Chapter’s pump installation. They are surrounded by rocks and construction.
  • Sustainability
  • Scholars
Obama Scholar's invention brings clean water to rural Indonesians

Obama Scholar creates clean water for rural Indonesians

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A Black man wearing a sweatshirt holds onto the rim of a basketball net, looking upward. The sky behind is a deep blue.
  • MBK Alliance
  • Chicago
Freedom Summer 2023

Check out the Freedom Summer 2023 grant recipients!

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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 young woman with a medium-deep skin tone and long black and brown hair, is shown in a school classroom holding multiple books.
  • Girls Opportunity Alliance
  • Education
Kiran’s story

Read Kiran’s story from India.

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A young fairly sized women with deep skin, a small high top curly fro, and a small earing on her left ear holds a soccer ball. She is wearing a red addidas shirt, black adidas pants, and pick purple shoes. The setting is a rocky dirt field with short purple cones on the ground. A few deeper toned young girls with young hair to the side cut out by the frame. There is a rusted goal also cut out on the same side behind them.
  • Girls Opportunity Alliance
  • Leaders
Thuba’s story

Thuba’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
  • Equality
Rebecca’s story

Rebecca’s story

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In this picture, a man and a woman with a deep skin tone are shown in white lab shirts. The woman faces the camera while the man doesn't.
  • Girls Opportunity Alliance
  • Education
Diana’s story

Watch Diana’s story from Malawi.

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Painting
  • MBK Alliance
  • Chicago
Freedom Summer 2022

Creating Safe and Engaging Spaces for Youth

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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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New Life
  • MBK Alliance
  • Chicago
Safe spaces create hope and opportunities for Chicago youth

Since 2005, New Life Centers of Chicagoland has addressed the needs of the neighbors surrounding New Life Community Church locations and beyond.

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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
  • Equality
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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The Obama Foundation Logo
  • Chicago
  • Health & Wellbeing
Michael Strautmanis reflects on the death of Chicago teen Seandell Holliday

Chicago lost another innocent life this weekend and this one came close to home.

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President Obama waves goodbye to a crowd as he walks off stage
  • Defending Democracy
  • Barack Obama
Democracy in the digital realm

Hear President Obama share his vision for the internet in this keynote address at Stanford University.

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President Barack Obama sits amongst young individuals of a variety of skin complexions. President Obama is smiling and so are the young individuals around him.
  • Scholars
  • Barack Obama
President Obama returns to his roots to support young leaders

President Obama joined with University of Chicago Scholars for a thoughtful conversation about their work and the issues that are impacting their work. He later dropped in to Hyde Park Academy on the South Side of Chicago for a Futures Series conversation!

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missing
  • MBK Alliance
  • Health & Wellbeing
Six reflections on Black mental health and self-care

Here at the My Brother’s Keeper Alliance, we support communities of color across the United States and Puerto Rico that are taking action to create systemic solutions to the most pressing issues facing boys and young men of color.

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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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A man with a medium skin tone stands smiling at the camera in a green graduation cap and grown
  • Stories
Brotherhood Crusade youth success story

The Brotherhood Crusade, a 2017 MBK Alliance grant recipient and prominent organization in the LA MBK community, helps young men transform their lives as well as those of others in their families and members of their community.

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A young woman in a blue blazer smiles while writing on a piece of paper.
  • Stories
  • Community Engagement
Obama Foundation and Urban Alliance launch Obama Youth Jobs Corps

Obama Foundation and Urban Alliance Launch Obama Youth Jobs Corps

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White House Mentees
  • Stories
  • MBK Alliance
My Brother’s Keeper Alliance announces "Communities to Watch"

The following communities received significant consideration as part of the Community Challenge Competition but we are unfortunately unable to financially support them at this time

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