President Obama returns to his roots to support young leaders

At the Obama Foundation, we’re committed to helping the next generation change their world for the better. That’s why this week President Obama is back in Chicago, spending time with an inspiring group of Obama Scholars working to address the biggest challenges of our time. He’ll also meet with local high school students that the Foundation is empowering to explore new career possibilities and talk about the role we all can play in making a difference in our communities.

President Obama talks disinformation and democracy during Chicago visit

President Obama returned to Chicago in April, where he met with 12 University of Chicago Obama Foundation Scholars for a conversation about challenges to democracy, including eroding trust in institutions, the impacts of disinformation on their work, and

President Obama visits Hyde Park Academy in Chicago for Futures Series conversation

President Obama holds a microphone in his left hand and gestures with his right, to a large auditorium filled with dozens of high school students.

President Obama visits Hyde Park Academy in Chicago, IL, on April 7, 2022, for a Futures Series session to talk to students about the opportunity they all have to find their potential. Please credit “The Obama Foundation.” The photographs may not be manipulated in any way, and may not be used in commercial or political materials, advertisements, emails, products, or promotions that in any way suggest approval or endorsement by the Foundation, President Obama, or Mrs. Obama without the Foundation’s prior written consent.

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A female with a medium skin tone stands up to talk in a crowd

President Obama visits Hyde Park Academy in Chicago, IL, on April 7, 2022, for a Futures Series session to talk to students about the opportunity they all have to find their potential. Please credit “The Obama Foundation.” The photographs may not be manipulated in any way, and may not be used in commercial or political materials, advertisements, emails, products, or promotions that in any way suggest approval or endorsement by the Foundation, President Obama, or Mrs. Obama without the Foundation’s prior written consent.

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President Obama speaks at a Obama Foundation Futures Series event

President Obama visits Hyde Park Academy in Chicago, IL, on April 7, 2022, for a Futures Series session to talk to students about the opportunity they all have to find their potential. Please credit “The Obama Foundation.” The photographs may not be manipulated in any way, and may not be used in commercial or political materials, advertisements, emails, products, or promotions that in any way suggest approval or endorsement by the Foundation, President Obama, or Mrs. Obama without the Foundation’s prior written consent.

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A close up of President Obama with a microphone in his hand

President Obama visits Hyde Park Academy in Chicago, IL, on April 7, 2022, for a Futures Series session to talk to students about the opportunity they all have to find their potential. Please credit “The Obama Foundation.” The photographs may not be manipulated in any way, and may not be used in commercial or political materials, advertisements, emails, products, or promotions that in any way suggest approval or endorsement by the Foundation, President Obama, or Mrs. Obama without the Foundation’s prior written consent.

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Students with various skin tones looks and reacts to what is in front of them

President Obama visits Hyde Park Academy in Chicago, IL, on April 7, 2022, for a Futures Series session to talk to students about the opportunity they all have to find their potential. Please credit “The Obama Foundation.” The photographs may not be manipulated in any way, and may not be used in commercial or political materials, advertisements, emails, products, or promotions that in any way suggest approval or endorsement by the Foundation, President Obama, or Mrs. Obama without the Foundation’s prior written consent.

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President Obama waving to the crowd at the Futures Series event

President Obama visits Hyde Park Academy in Chicago, IL, on April 7, 2022, for a Futures Series session to talk to students about the opportunity they all have to find their potential. Please credit “The Obama Foundation.” The photographs may not be manipulated in any way, and may not be used in commercial or political materials, advertisements, emails, products, or promotions that in any way suggest approval or endorsement by the Foundation, President Obama, or Mrs. Obama without the Foundation’s prior written consent.

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Adults and teenagers with various skin tones sitting down and pay attention to the person speaking on stage.

President Obama visits Hyde Park Academy in Chicago, IL, on April 7, 2022, for a Futures Series session to talk to students about the opportunity they all have to find their potential. Please credit “The Obama Foundation.” The photographs may not be manipulated in any way, and may not be used in commercial or political materials, advertisements, emails, products, or promotions that in any way suggest approval or endorsement by the Foundation, President Obama, or Mrs. Obama without the Foundation’s prior written consent.

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A profile image of a girl with dark skin, eyeglasses, and braids, clasps her hands under her chin smiling softly off camera.

President Obama visits Hyde Park Academy in Chicago, IL, on April 7, 2022, for a Futures Series session to talk to students about the opportunity they all have to find their potential. Please credit “The Obama Foundation.” The photographs may not be manipulated in any way, and may not be used in commercial or political materials, advertisements, emails, products, or promotions that in any way suggest approval or endorsement by the Foundation, President Obama, or Mrs. Obama without the Foundation’s prior written consent.

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President Obama takes a picture with boys and girls apart of My Brother's Keeper and Girls Opportunity Alliance

President Obama joins local students in the My Brother’s Keeper Alliance and the Girls Opportunity Alliance at the Chicago Bulls vs Boston Celtics basketball game on April 6, 2022.

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Pesident Obama listening to a girl with a medium skin tone talk

President Obama joins local students in the My Brother’s Keeper Alliance and the Girls Opportunity Alliance at the Chicago Bulls vs Boston Celtics basketball game on April 6, 2022.

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President Obama is shown sitting beside a deep-skin-toned young man while smiling a talking to a medium-skin-toned young lady. He is also surrounded by many other various skin-toned people.

President Obama joins local students in the My Brother’s Keeper Alliance and the Girls Opportunity Alliance at the Chicago Bulls vs Boston Celtics basketball game on April 6, 2022.

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President Obama celebrated while interacting with people at a Chicago Bulls game

President Obama joins local students in the My Brother’s Keeper Alliance and the Girls Opportunity Alliance at the Chicago Bulls vs Boston Celtics basketball game on April 6, 2022.

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President Obama talking to a woman with a deep skin tone wearing a Girl's Opportunity Alliance shirt

President Obama joins local students in the My Brother’s Keeper Alliance and the Girls Opportunity Alliance at the Chicago Bulls vs Boston Celtics basketball game on April 6, 2022.

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President Obama is shown shaking the hand of a young man with a deep skin tone while surrounded by other young men of various skin tones who are smiling.

President Obama joins local students in the My Brother’s Keeper Alliance and the Girls Opportunity Alliance at the Chicago Bulls vs Boston Celtics basketball game on April 6, 2022.

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President Obama smiles, holds up and points to a red Benny the Bulls tshirt in the United Center arena. Benny the Bull mascot has one arm around President Obama.

President Obama poses with Chicago Bulls mascot 'Benny the Bull' where he joined students in the My Brother’s Keeper Alliance and the Girls Opportunity Alliance for a Chicago Bulls vs Boston Celtics basketball game on April 6, 2022.

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President Obama waves to a crowd at the United Center basketball arena. Behind him, Chicago Bulls Benny the Bull mascot and Chicago White Sox South Paw wave. Seated around him youth are clapping and smiling.

President Obama joins local students in the My Brother’s Keeper Alliance and the Girls Opportunity Alliance at the Chicago Bulls vs Boston Celtics basketball game on April 6, 2022.

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President Obama shakes hands with a young girl in a white tshirt and glasses in a packed basketball arena. Other young girls surround him smiling and talking to one another.

President Obama joins local students in the My Brother’s Keeper Alliance and the Girls Opportunity Alliance at the Chicago Bulls vs Boston Celtics basketball game on April 6, 2022.

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Two rows of seated people, purple arena lights illuminate President Obama and young boys in sweatshirt that say"I AM MY BROTHER'S KEEPER' during a Chicago Bull's basketball game.

President Obama joins local students in the My Brother’s Keeper Alliance and the Girls Opportunity Alliance at the Chicago Bulls vs Boston Celtics basketball game on April 6, 2022.

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Girls and women apart of GOA at a dinner

Local students in the Girls Opportunity Alliance ask questions during a Futures Series career session with sports marketing professionals at the United Center in Chicago, IL on April 6, 2022.

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Two men and women with skin tones ranging from medium to medium-deep sit and face the same direction

Local students in the My Brother’s Keeper Alliance and the Girls Opportunity Alliance meet with sports marketing professionals for a career session “Futures Series, World of Work: What Making an Impact Means to Me” at the United Center in Chicago, IL on April 6, 2022. These young people had the opportunity to hear from Jamar Williams (Chicago Blackhawks), Derrick Christian (United Center), and Courtney Robinson Jones (Chicago Bulls) about what their jobs entail, their professional journeys, and how they leverage their positions to make an impact.

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A dinner with males and females of various skin tones is being held.

Jamar Williams with the Chicago Blackhawks speaks with local students in the My Brother’s Keeper Alliance following a Futures Series career session at the United Center in Chicago, IL on April 6, 2022.

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A group of people with various different skin tone sit, listen, and record the two men speaking on stage

President Obama speaks with Jeffrey Goldberg of The Atlantic at the University of Chicago in Chicago, IL, on April 6, 2022. .

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President Obama sitting and talkiing on stage with a man with a light skin tone

President Obama speaks with Jeffrey Goldberg of The Atlantic at the University of Chicago in Chicago, IL, on April 6, 2022.

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Two Obama Scholars dressed in business casual attire listen attentively President Obama at a table during a roundtable meeting. President Obama gestures with his hands open while speaking.

President Obama meets with Obama Foundation Scholars at the University of Chicago in Chicago, IL, on April 6, 2022.

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This picture shows a woman with a medium skin tone with short black hair, a man with a medium skin tone, and another woman with a deep skin tone presumably at a meeting table discussion.

President Obama meets with Obama Foundation Scholars at the University of Chicago in Chicago, IL, on April 6, 2022.

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A group of twelve Obama Scholars dressed in business casual attire listen attentively President Obama at a table during a roundtable meeting. President Obama hands are up and open while he speaks.

President Obama meets with Obama Foundation Scholars at the University of Chicago in Chicago, IL, on April 6, 2022.

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A group of twelve Obama Scholars dressed in business casual attire stand and pose for a group photo with President Obama following roundtable meeting.

President Obama meets with Obama Foundation Scholars at the University of Chicago in Chicago, IL, on April 6, 2022.

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A group of four Obama Scholars dressed in business casual attire listen attentively President Obama at a table during a roundtable meeting. President Obama gestures with his an open palm while speaking.

President Obama meets with Obama Foundation Scholars at the University of Chicago in Chicago, IL, on April 6, 2022.

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