Our mission is to inspire people to take action, empower them to change their world for the better, and connect them so they can achieve more together.
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The Obama Foundation today announced a selection of spaces in the Obama Presidential Center that honor the civil rights and democracy leaders who inspired President and Mrs. Obama’s own leadership journeys and represent those “on whose shoulders we stand” as people across the country and around the world seek to advance progress, dignity, and inclusion in our societies.
These spaces were made possible through the generous support of individual and institutional donors committed to advancing our democracies through belonging and action.
The spaces announced today include:
🗳️Nelson Mandela Sky Room is a free, open-to-the-public sanctuary located on the highest level of the Museum building, offering sweeping views of Jackson Park and Chicago’s South and West Sides through excerpts from President Obama’s speech commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Selma-to-Montgomery Marches, rendered in five-foot-tall letters on the building’s exterior.
⚖️Thurgood Marshall Courtyard, nestled on the campus's Lower Level, is a “miniature park” and is made possible through the generous support of Peter and Maria Kellner.
🍃Rachel Carson Reading Garden, located just off the Library, is made possible through the generous support of Amy Goldman Fowler and Family.
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And they join the suite of spaces in our Democracy in Action Lab (DIAL), which is made possible through the support of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF). These spaces include: The Ida B. Wells Program Room, made possible through the generous support of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation; the Sojourner Truth Program Room, made possible through the generous support of W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Battle Creek, Michigan; and the Reginald F. Lewis Program Room.
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The Obama Presidential Center opens to the public on June 19. These named spaces will serve as lasting tributes to the giants of history, reminding every visitor that they, too, have the power to leave a lasting mark on the world.
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Twelve years ago, President Obama made history as the first sitting president to visit an Indian reservation. He and Mrs. Obama promised to invest in the young people there — and recently reconnected with some of them.
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They were not just programs. They were promises. That’s what @MichelleObama says about the initiatives she focused on in her eight years as First Lady. Throughout the Obama Presidential Center Museum, visitors will encounter the four initiatives that she said served as pledges made to millions of people around the world.
Recently, Mrs. Obama reflected on her White House initiatives, and explained why Let's Move!, Joining Forces, Reach Higher, and Let Girls Learn mattered: “There is so much hope, so much potential, inside every single one of us,” Mrs. Obama shared. “And I just hoped to use my platform to help more people reach theirs.”
The Obama Presidential Center opens to the public on June 19 in Chicago's Jackson Park.
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President and Mrs. Obama have had a partnership from their earliest days, and the Obama Presidential Center Museum reflects this. The love, and sense of humor, that keeps them connected was obvious when President Obama recently toured the Museum with Valerie Jarrett.
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Bo and Sunny had no idea they were living at the most famous address in the world. They just wanted scratches behind their ears, a patch of sun to lie in, and some wide open spaces to run. That energy is alive at the Obama Presidential Center.
Recently, @MichelleObama reflected on her family’s life in the White House. In this new video, she explains how part of the Life in the White House exhibit at the Museum featuring Bo and Sunny—-a playful comic strip called "Our Life in the White House"—was designed so every child, including those who can't see, can experience the joy those two brought to the White House.
"The fur is rendered in different textures, so a child can run their fingers across it and feel the comfort Bo and Sunny gave to us," Mrs. Obama said. "It's a reminder that home is being with the people—and pups—we love, no matter the setting."
The Obama Presidential Center opens on June 19 in Chicago's Jackson Park.
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The Obama Foundation today announced a selection of spaces in the Obama Presidential Center named for those who dedicated their lives to building the relationships that sustain our communities through food and family. Those honored include Mrs. Obama’s father, Fraser C. Robinson, who joins Mrs. Obama’s mother, Marian Robinson, and President Obama’s mother, Ann Dunham, in spaces named for them that underscore the important role that family and community play in civic life. These spaces are made possible through the generous support of individual and institutional donors who are committed to nurturing our communities.
The spaces announced today include:
🍔Tafari’s Kitchen, located inside the Forum building just off the John Lewis Plaza, offers casual food inspired by the Obamas, as well as White House chef Tafari Campbell’s own recipes. A painting of him by Kate Capshaw will hang in the restaurant.
Alice Waters Private Dining Room, located off Tafari’s Kitchen in the Forum building, is made possible through the generous support of Gwendolyn Weiner, The EOS Foundation Trust.
♥️Fraser C. Robinson Picnic Area, located adjacent to the Eleanor Roosevelt Fruit and Vegetable Garden, is made possible through the generous support of an anonymous donor.
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These spaces join others already announced that also honor family members and leaders who nurture our bodies and communities. They include:
The Ann Dunham Water Terrace, made possible through the generous support of Obama Campaign and Administration Alumni; the Eleanor Roosevelt Fruit and Vegetable Garden, made possible through the generous support of Connie Ballmer; Opening the White House, in honor of Marian Robinson, made possible through the generous support of Mark Gallogly and Lise Strickler, Three Cairns Group; and the Herman Petty Program Room, made possible through the generous support of McDonald’s Corporation.
The Obama Presidential Center opens to the public on June 19. These named spaces will serve as lasting tributes to the giants of history, reminding every visitor that they, too, have the power to leave a lasting mark on the world.
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Join us for the livestream of the Obama Presidential Center Grand Opening Ceremony on June 18 at 11 a.m. CT! It’s a front-row seat to history, no matter where you are. Tune in to feel the thrill of legendary performances by global icons and powerful remarks from today’s most prominent voices and leaders.
Get notified when the festivities begin: obama.org/visit/grand-openin…
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The Obama Presidential Center is more than just a campus; it’s a living institution rooted in community, and built to serve generations to come. We built it with you and your families in mind, and that’s why you'll be greeted by our amazing team when you visit.
We’ve made sure of it. More than 17,000 people applied for frontline jobs at the Center, and we hired the top 1 percent. Because, as President Obama says, “When people come here, we want them to feel what makes the South Side so special—that mix of warmth and grit, the sense of humor that can brighten any day, the creativity that turns challenges into opportunities, and the joy that shows up in every block, every church, every family reunion.”
Recently, President Obama welcomed these new employees in our auditorium, and he greeted them as he toured the Museum and campus with Obama Foundation CEO Valerie Jarrett. He talked with them about how every job here matters. He said each one of us is responsible for making our visitors feel welcome and safe and to remember we are all ambassadors of hope.
We all cannot wait to welcome you.
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Jazz is built on hope. June is Black Music Month and we are celebrating with some wisdom from a true Jazz legend, Herbie Hancock!
Hancock was at Hyde Park Academy recently to talk with students about creativity and resilience as part of the Obama Foundation's Futures Series. It's a program that exposes high school students to career pathways through intimate conversations with accomplished leaders. Hancock grew up on Chicago's South Side and attended Hyde Park Academy, later becoming a musical pioneer who used his background in electrical engineering to bridge the gap between jazz and the birth of hip-hop.
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The Obama Foundation today announced a selection of spaces in the Obama Presidential Center that will honor leaders who have inspired young people to make change. These named spaces are made possible through the generosity of individuals and organizations that are supporting the Center’s efforts to inspire, empower, and connect the next generation of changemakers and tell the stories of those who influenced the journey of President and Mrs. Obama.
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🥇Eunice Kennedy Shriver Lobby at Home Court, the light-filled entrance to the programs and athletic center. This space is made possible through the generous support of our founding partner of health and wellness programming, Northwestern Medicine.
🩺Paul Farmer Special Exhibitions Gallery in the Obama Presidential Center Museum, located on the Lower Level. This space is made possible through the generous support of the family of Jessie Reid Taylor.
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These spaces join others already announced that honor leaders who inspire our young people, including the Imagine Your Impact, in honor of Mae Jemison, made possible through the generous support of Exelon, and the Hadiya Pendleton Atrium.
The Obama Presidential Center opens to the public on June 19. These named spaces will serve as lasting tributes to the giants of history, reminding every visitor that they, too, have the power to leave a lasting mark on the world.
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