The Obama Foundation

Mahalia Jackson’s voice helped inspire a movement for freedom and equality. On her birthday, we honor her legacy at the Obama Presidential Center, where “Take My Hand, Precious Lord” fills the museum soundscape and the café bears her name, thanks to the Judy and Peter Blum Kovler Foundation.

Last week, President Obama met with young leaders from the My Brother's Keeper Alliance at the Obama Presidential Center. They shared more about the work they’re doing at school, their goals for the future, and even gave me an update on their class elections. Take a look!

He may no longer be the president but he is still the baby whisperer! No better spot to meet the next generation than the Obama Presidential Center.

Spend Halloween with us! 🎃 Visit the Obama Presidential Center Oct. 31, from 11 a.m.–2 p.m. for stickers, candy and custom buttons. Costume masks and toy or replica guns aren’t permitted. go.obama.org/lwx2or

Who doesn’t love pesto? (But definitely share your take on radishes in the comments…) Recently, Mrs. Obama connected with several young gardeners who have participated in our partnership with After School Matters.

Before @barackobama.bsky.social became President, Dr. Timuel Black helped show him what it meant to organize, serve, and lead on Chicago’s South Side. Five years after his passing, we remember the historian, Civil Rights leader, and mentor who believed in opening doors for the next generation.

Happy International #DayoftheGirl! We’re excited to share that the Girls Opportunity Alliance will be providing more than $1 million to 25 incredible grassroots organizations supporting girls in 15 different countries. go.obama.org/rR77FF

A little encouragement for your feed from one of our Girls Opportunity Alliance girls, Caytlen from Ladies of Virtue, just in time for World Mental Health Day.

For Banned Books Week, we’re sharing 5 titles from President Obama’s Reading Room collection that have faced bans or challenges. Which one have you read? Censorship, public trust and access to books and ideas will be explored at Ideas Unbound, our Forum Talk on October 20. go.obama.org/wtvcbu

It’s always a blast to be in the garden at the Obama Presidential Center! This week, Michelle Obama met up with a group of Chicago students from After School Matters with Urban Growers Collective and Cliff Rome to talk about gardening, sustainability, and food preservation. Take a look!

Mike Ditka’s 1985 Bears forever changed the laws of football, thrilled all of us who live in Chicago and riveted the country. That’s the legacy we’re reflecting on today.

GARDEN FACT FRIDAY: From the bee waggle dance to native mason bee nesting, get the buzz about ecosystem health with our Garden Gatherings series at the Obama Presidential Center, in partnership with Urban Growers Collective.

Five MVPs. And a hometown shout-out from President Obama. Congratulations to A’ja Wilson on making history as the WNBA’s first five-time MVP. We’re proud of you, too.

There’s nothing like a fall evening at the Obama Presidential Center.

Come inside the first Girls Opportunity Alliance Chicago Network Convening at the Obama Presidential Center. In The Arrival, the first episode of our new four-part series, we’re taking you behind the scenes of the Girls Opportunity Alliance Chicago Network Convening.

On this World Architecture Day, take a minute to take in our campus: not a collection of standalone buildings, but a place where design, nature and community life are inseparable.

No one gives #couplegoals like these two, and after 34 years, they’ve still got it. Happy Anniversary to President and Mrs. Obama!

Fall calls for a little more time around the table. Starting October 5, Tafari’s Kitchen is open 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Mondays. More time for good food. More time together.

Before they were President and Mrs. Obama, they were Barack and Michelle… and this is a look at their love story. Happy Anniversary!

GARDEN FACT FRIDAY: Learn how to harness the power of the sun to craft your own aromatherapy oils with tips from our six-part Garden Gatherings series at the Obama Presidential Center, hosted in partnership with Urban Growers Collective.

Today, we're spotlighting award-winning author Dr. Ebony Joy Wilkins, who read "Zora, the Story Keeper" to South Side families at the Obama Presidential Center's Chicago Public Library during Grand Opening weekend, leaving her inspired to write the next story.

The Obama Foundation and US National Archives (NARA) have a new, joint effort to give the public even greater access and understanding of the work of President Obama’s administration.

The South Side is headed to October! ⚾️🙌🏾 Big congratulations to the White Sox on making the playoffs. P44’s been riding with the Sox for a long time, and clearly Southpaw has been keeping a close eye on him. Thanks for looking out, Southpaw. 👀🖤🤍

Today marks 100 days since the Obama Presidential Center opened to the public! So we’ve got a by-the-numbers look at all the ways people from around the world, across the country and down the block have made this campus their own!

Check out how the @pgatourus.bsky.social and Jackson Park Golf Association collaborated with Obama Foundation to tee up a bright future in sports for 20 Chicagoland teens.

At a 2019 Obama Leaders convening, a K-pop exec shared her dream in a room full of civic leaders. A UN staffer heard her. They co-founded 1VERSE—the first K-pop group born from a U.S. president’s legacy work, featuring two North Korean defectors.

We're happy to announce the 35 visionaries joining the Obama Foundation Europe Leaders cohort this year—in government, business, and civil society—all with a shared commitment of creating positive, sustainable change in their communities, regions and around the world.

Ten years ago today, President Obama helped dedicate the National Museum of African American History and Culture and said it tells “a richer and fuller story of who we are.”

Trust is at the heart of a strong democracy. That’s the message Barack Obama will share during the upcoming 2026 Democracy Forum—exploring how people, institutions, and technologies build, repair and scale trust in one another and in democracy itself.

Today we are welcoming 50 visionaries joining the Obama Foundation USA Leaders cohort this year—in government, business, and civil society—all with a shared commitment of creating positive, sustainable change in their communities, regions and around the world.

Earth, Wind and Fire. On the 21st. Naturally. ✨ Philip Bailey, Verdine White, and Ralph Johnson of one of President Obama’s longtime favorite groups stopped by the Obama Presidential Center, and there was only one obvious day to share it. What does “September” bring back for you?

On this World Cleanup Day, we celebrate the work of Re:wild Your Campus founder and Obama Foundation Leader Mackenzie Feldman. Today, she’s taking us on a tour of the Obama Presidential Center Museum with an eye for Barack Obama’s climate work.

At 6 years old, Alex wrote to President Obama offering to welcome a young Syrian boy into his family. His letter reached the United Nations, the White House — and, 10 years later, the Obama Presidential Center. A small act of kindness can travel farther than we imagine.

She raced across the South Lawn, kept watch over Bo and never turned down a belly rub. Wherever the Obama family went, Sunny helped make it feel like home. Rest well, Sunny. You will be missed.

Happy Birthday to one of the world’s most passionate, powerful performers! We are still thinking about how Marc Anthony’s soulful performance energized the crowd at the Obama Presidential Center grand opening this summer. A magical moment! Have the best day, Marc!

The Obama family shared that Sunny passed away yesterday after 13 years by their side. She was fiercely protective of her big brother, Bo, and we can imagine the two of them together again. Today, hold your pets a little closer and cherish every moment you share.

On this International Day of Democracy, we celebrate Obama Foundation Europe Leader Vigjilenca Abazi, the Co-Founder and Executive Director of the European Whistleblowing Institute, which supports those who have the courage to speak up to protect the public’s interests.

Today we are thrilled to announce the newest class of Obama Foundation Scholars, emerging leaders—learning to tackle big challenges through study at University of Chicago, in addition to our robust programming.

At 11, Murat Akaydin watched 9/11 change what it meant to be Muslim in NYC. Later, he became an Army intelligence collector, lost a friend fighting in Afghanistan, and built a life around one belief: democracy starts with the people closest to the problem. Get Murat's full story at obama.org/stories

Today we reflect on loss, courage, and resilience. One way he Obama Presidential Center shares this story is a framed American flag that was carried by SEAL Team Six and Army pilots during Operation Neptune’s Spear, which killed Osama bin Laden in Pakistan in 2011.

Today, 25 years after 9/11, we still remember. We remember the clear skies. We remember the people killed. We remember the resilience and unity that followed. With this photo of the sky above the Obama Presidential Center today, we remember alongside the 911 Memorial. #NeverForget911 #RememberTheSky

Meet the 35 visionaries joining the Obama Foundation Asia-Pacific Leaders cohort this year — in government, business, and civil society — all with a shared commitment of creating positive, sustainable change in their communities, regions and around the world.

Today we announce the 35 visionaries joining the Obama Foundation Africa Leaders cohort this year — in government, business, and civil society — all with a shared commitment of creating positive, sustainable change in their communities, regions and around the world.

One person can change how the world sees something, but first, they may have to change the way they see themselves. During a recent visit to the Obama Presidential Center, Coach Jackie shared how some difficult moments as a young soccer player helped set her on a path to bring change home.