Hi Black Independent,
Chicago Public Schools students headed back to the classroom this week, and with the start of the school year comes another year of the Futures Series!
Since 2022, The Obama Foundation has partnered with Hyde Park Academy, the high school across the street from the future Obama Presidential Center, to introduce students to industry leaders and cultural icons who inspire them to achieve more than they thought possible.
Last school year, Futures Series guests like investigative reporter Samantha Chapman, Jordan Brand CDO Jason Mayden, and Chicago Alderman Ronnie Mosley shared their stories, and for students like Rayshawn Blackman, these moments were life-changing:
 The 2024-2025 Futures Series gave Hyde Park Academy Students opportunities to get out of the classroom and into real-world workplaces:- At O’Hare Airport, students toured an aircraft and spoke with representatives from across roles at United Airlines to learn about what it takes to run a global airline.
- At McDonald’s Headquarters, students got to prototype burger packaging, explore the newly opened Speedee Labs, participate in a career roundtable, and learn how Happy Meal toys are being made with more sustainable materials.
- At Wintrust Arena, students met with Chicago Sky and Wintrust Arena staff who bring the WNBA games to life before cheering on the Sky in a game against the Mystics.
If you can see it, you can be it—and experiences like these empower Hyde Park Academy students to pursue careers they might not have even considered.
 As we prepare for this year’s Futures Series, we’re also preparing to welcome students from across Chicago and around the world to the Obama Presidential Center!
From field trips to the Museum to talks at the Forum Building to programming at Home Court, we want every student who visits the Center to leave feeling inspired and uplifted. Learn more about what we’re building on the South Side of Chicago. –The Obama Foundation |
