Obama Foundation

"What makes us great is not our size or our wealth, but our values and our ideals and the fact that we're willing to fight for them. A land of liberty and opportunity; a global defender of peace and freedom; a beacon of hope for people everywhere who cherish those ideals. And we have also earned it [...] because as part of a long line of folks who are willing to fight for those ideals, we've been able to not only preserve and make more perfect this union, but also try to spread that light elsewhere." - President Obama, July 4, 2013 Today, we honor the service members whose sacrifices protect our freedom. No matter how or where you mark Independence Day, may your celebration embody the values and ideals that make us all American — and to which we must recommit ourselves to fight for year after year. Happy 4th! 🇺🇸

Our Obama Foundation interns did a phenomenal job facilitating their end of year projects today! They were poised, professional, and authentically themselves. The room was filled with cheers, laughter, and lots of gratitude. Thank you Odalis Arcadio and the entire OF team for providing such a rich and intentional internship experience for our students. Urban Alliance is extremely grateful for your support. A special shout out to our very own Internship Program Lead (IPL), Leon Dixon, for helping to foster a strong partnership. Well done! #UrbanAlliance #UA #UrbanAllianceChicago #StudentsFirst #Internships #Partnership

🌈 We had a blast walking with our friends from the LGBT Chamber of Commerce of Illinois in the 53rd annual Chicago Pride Parade! Throughout June we reflected on the progress that has been made toward equality for LGBTQ+ Americans, and celebrated the community at events like Pride Fest. As Pride Month comes to close, we encourage everyone to recommit to the significant work that remains. As President Obama has said, we must “continue to stand in solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community as they fight growing threats to their right to live freely and without prejudice.”

We’re incredibly inspired by the hundreds of LGBTQIA+ Obama campaign and White House alumni who worked, and continue to work, tirelessly to push progress forward. Alumni like Dylan Orr, who made history when he became the first transgender person to serve in an appointed position in a U.S. Presidential administration. We caught up with Dylan to hear about his role in the Obama administration and how he is continuing to carry the work forward today – both as a transgender dad and he Director of Environmental Health Services for Seattle & King County Public Health. Read his story: https://lnkd.in/gxKjyqu9

June 26, 2015, also marked the end of an unprecedented ten-day stretch in American history. That afternoon, President Obama traveled to Charleston, South Carolina, to eulogize Reverend Clementa Pinckney alongside eight of his parishioners, who were brutally murdered by a white supremacist at Mother Emanuel AME church. The President spoke of grace and reflected on the incredible lives lost. Revisit the powerful yet devastating moment in our nation’s history.

June 26, 2015, marked a historic day for our country. In the morning, the Supreme Court affirmed that same-sex couples had the constitutional right to marry. On the same day the ruling came down, Obama alum Pamela popped the question to her partner Viola Canales: Would she marry her? That day, love won and Viola said yes! The ‘Obergefell v. Hodges’ ruling was made possible not just by President Obama and his administration, but the advocates and the everyday heroes that worked tirelessly to secure equal rights for LGBTQIA+ Americans. To celebrate the anniversary of the ruling, we spoke to Pamela about her continued advocacy for the LGBTQIA+ community. Take a look: https://lnkd.in/g4_cEdxv

“If it hadn’t been for folks like you and Jackie I’m not sure I would’ve been elected.” This week Willie Mays passed away at 93. A baseball legend considered one of the greatest ever to play the game, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Barack Obama in 2015. In 2009, he flew on Air Force One with President Obama to attend the All-Star game, where the President reflected on the role Mr. Mays and others had played in making it possible for him to reach the White House. 

Hey Chicago, join us tomorrow for a Juneteenth commemoration as we get together with our friends and neighbors at the DuSable Museum of African American History this Wednesday to celebrate the day. This year’s event theme is Celebrating Black Creativity and Expression and will feature free musical performances from some incredible artists—including our MBK Alliance Freedom Summer 2022 recipient Guitars Over Guns. Get the details below, and check out other Chicago-based #Juneteenth events happening around the city: https://lnkd.in/gZJQy8TT

Happy Father’s Day to all the dads and father figures out there – especially to Malia and Sasha’s dad, Barack Obama! 💙

12 years ago President Barack Obama announced the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA) to offer protections for Dreamers — undocumented young people who came to the United States as children. To mark the tenth anniversary of that program, President Obama sat down with five DACA recipients to hear their stories, reflect on their contributions, and continue to call out the need for a permanent resolution to their status. Take a look: