👋🏼 Hi, I’m Libby Joyce Schmitz, Senior Director of Corporate Relations at the Obama Foundation! Last week at Engage for Good, we hosted an inspiring Lunch & Learn that brought together more than 60 social impact leaders in one room—it was truly energizing. The session, Empowering the Next Generation of Leaders in Chicago and Around the World, featured two incredible changemakers from our network: 🌍 Concepción Gaxiola, Executive Director of AGE Africa: Advancing Girls' Education and member of the #GirlsOpportunityAlliance, who is advancing education and empowerment for adolescent girls in Malawi. 🇺🇸 Greg Ericksen, Senior Director of Government Partnerships and Policy at REDF and a 2024-25 USA Obama Leader, who is pioneering employment solutions for individuals overcoming barriers to work. These leaders embody how our programs don't just elevate voices—they help scale real, systemic change. Attendees also got a special preview of the Obama Presidential Center, opening in Chicago in spring 2026—a future hub for civic innovation and global leadership. Curious to learn more about our work or community of changemakers? Visit Obama.org!
Obama Foundation
Non-profit Organizations
Chicago, Illinois 392,670 followers
Our mission is to inspire, empower, and connect people to change their world.
About us
At the Obama Foundation, we are guided by a core belief: that ordinary people working together can change history. Our mission is to inspire those people to take action, empower them to change their world for the better, and connect them so they can achieve more together than they can alone. We were founded by community organizers, so when we seek change, we do it by bringing people together. That approach begins at home, on the South Side of Chicago, where we are building the Obama Presidential Center. The Center represents a historic opportunity for Chicago: a chance to build a world-class museum and public gathering space that celebrates our nation’s first African American President and First Lady, steps away from where he began his career, where she was raised, and where—together—they made their home. But that approach extends to all our work, whether it’s holding leadership training sessions in communities throughout the U.S., bringing local leaders together in countries around the world, working to support the global education of girls, or ensuring young men of color have pathways to opportunity. As President Obama has said, “we cannot solve the challenges of our time unless we solve them together.” So join us.
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https://www.obama.org/
External link for Obama Foundation
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- Non-profit Organizations
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- 51-200 employees
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- Chicago, Illinois
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- Nonprofit
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5235 S Harper Ct
Chicago, Illinois 60615, US
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1250 24th St NW
Washington, District of Columbia 20037, US
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Updates
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Obama Foundation reposted this
VP, Public Engagement at Obama Foundation | Coalition Builder | Storyteller | Government Relations | People Development | Community Engagement Expert
Hello Chicago Friends! We're just about a year away from the opening of the Obama Presidential Center, and there's so much to look forward to! From exciting career opportunities at the Center to community town halls and summer events, we’ve got a lot in store. To stay up to date on everything happening, we invite you to sign up for our Chicago newsletter. Don’t miss out—we’d love to keep you in the loop! Sign up at: https://lnkd.in/gTyQFek5
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We launched the Futures Series to give local students exposure to a wide range of careers they might not have considered before. Because we believe if you can see it, you can dream it. As part of our Futures Series, Hyde Park Academy students visited the McDonald's headquarters in Chicago where they heard directly from corporate staff, learned about diverse career paths, and got a special behind-the-scenes look at McDonald’s HQ.
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For Alani Tuivucilevu, women fishers in Fiji possess invaluable knowledge that remains underutilized, especially in the decision-making processes of the fishing industry. As a 2024-25 Obama Scholar, Alani is dedicated to giving women fishers a seat at the table through storytelling, data collection, and government advocacy. “For me, this work is more than advocacy—it’s hope in action,” Alani shared. “It’s about ensuring these women are seen, heard, and valued.” Learn more about Alani’s impactful work: https://lnkd.in/gZUAnR6H
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This World Book Day, we're celebrating the power of libraries—and looking ahead to the new Chicago Public Library branch coming to the Obama Presidential Center! This new branch of the Chicago Public Library will allow more South Side residents—like Kandria who joined us at one of our community roundtables—to have a new community space to read, learn, and connect. One standout feature will be a soaring sculpture by legendary Chicago artist Richard Hunt called Book Bird, which will show a bird taking flight from a book—symbolizing how reading opens minds, lifts spirits, and lets imagination fly.
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Happy Earth Day! This past weekend, we teamed up with our friends at Emerald South Economic Development Collaborative and an incredible group of staff and volunteers to beautify and restore Hyde Park Academy and Jackson Park. As the home of the future Obama Presidential Center, the South Side of Chicago holds a special place in our hearts. Thank you to everyone who joined us! And remember, it’s never too late to show your neighborhood some love. 💚
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🌍 This Earth Day we’re celebrating the Obama Presidential Center’s commitment to environmental sustainability. The 19-acre campus will feature vibrant green spaces, smart water conservation strategies, and will source 100% of its electricity from renewable energy—and that’s just the beginning. Learn more about the Center’s commitment to a greener future, starting on the South Side of Chicago: https://lnkd.in/g5vduSe3
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From the South Side to The New York Times' mini crossword — now that’s a clue we love.
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Today, we honor the life of Pope Francis, who passed away this morning at the age of 88. Read the Obamas’ statement on his passing: "Pope Francis was the rare leader who made us want to be better people. In his humility and his gestures at once simple and profound — embracing the sick, ministering to the homeless, washing the feet of young prisoners — he shook us out of our complacency and reminded us that we are all bound by moral obligations to God and one another. Today, Michelle and I mourn with everyone around the world — Catholic and non-Catholic alike — who drew strength and inspiration from the Pope’s example. May we continue to heed his call to “never remain on the sidelines of this march of living hope.”
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