Meet our new class of Obama Foundation Leaders!

 


Meet the new class of Obama Foundation Leaders! Representing 70 nations and territories, the 205 changemakers in our Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe, and United States cohorts share a common drive to confront our world’s toughest challenges.

Over the next year, while taking part in the Foundation’s signature Hope to Action curriculum, Leaders will learn from new perspectives and harness their collective power to achieve even more than they ever could on their own.

Take a moment to celebrate our Leaders by learning more about them here!

Welcome 2025 Leaders

As President Obama put it, “Each year, I am struck by the passion, creativity, and determination these young people bring to the table. My hope is that through this program, they’ll build lasting connections, learn from one another, and continue driving the kind of change that shapes a more just, sustainable, and hopeful future.”

Get to know the newest Leaders and stay tuned for more in-depth profiles highlighting their work both during their Leaders program and in the future as they become a part of the Obama Leadership Network


Trending Political Issues.

Al: won't be easy

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Dear Robert, What if there was a magic button that could overturn  Citizens United , get the word “SuperPAC” out of our national vocabulary, and drive shady money out of our political system forever? Wouldn’t you push the heck out of that button? Me, too. But there’s no such button. All we can do is fight as hard as we can to limit the influence of big money -- and one important step we can take is passing the DISCLOSE Act, a bill that would force special interest groups to tell us who’s funding their political activities. There’s no button we can push to make the DISCLOSE Act law. But there is a link you can click:  Click here to join us in calling on Congress to pass the DISCLOSE Act now! In the end, what we really need is a constitutional amendment to overturn  Citizens United  once and for all. But that’s an uphill battle. And the DISCLOSE Act would be an important first step up that hill. Requiring that special interest groups reveal where they get thei...
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United States Adjustment to ISIS

  United States Adjustments to ISIS CJA/454 Robert L. Gilyard September 2, 2014 Gary Howard United States Adjustment to ISIS This paper is an analysis on ISIS terrorism and how the American criminal justice system can adapt to the rising trend of terror. Suggestions to change the situation, proposed changes, positive, and negative effect of the change examination. Explanation and proposed usage of criminal justice management support, financial, training, and human resources tools available to combat terrorism. Situation: ISIS ISIS is a new organization with origination from 2006’s Islamic State of Iraq (ISI). The disbanding of Al-Qaeda organizations and other terror groups combined their resources and financial avenues into a new terror group called ISIS. They are not a new organization; it is a combination of the failed ones. The American media outlets are aiding in their emphasis on image terror. Using Bin Laden’s terror playbook and how he used video and random acts of terror du...
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Mark: out of state billionaires

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Robert, We had another strong performance at the debate tonight in Fayetteville. Once again, we showed where Tom Cotton's priorities lie: With the out-of-state billionaires bankrolling his campaign. This year, his backers have spent over $20 million trying to buy this election. Why?  Because they know they can count on Tom Cotton. That's the difference in this race. I listen to you and he listens to the billlionaires.   But we can't rest on our laurels with tonight's victory.  I need you to commit vote, and I need you to commit to vote early. The polls show this race is a dead heat, and we'll need a strong turnout to ensure victory.  Click here to commit to vote.  Thank you so much for your support. Now let's go win this thing. Mark Pryor
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fracking threatened my home and drinking water in upstate New York

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Black, As someone who has been active in the fight against fracking for nine years, I know how much it takes to stop the oil and gas industry from polluting the land and communities we love. Since I first learned that fracking threatened my home and drinking water in upstate New York,  I’ve been working with Food & Water Watch.  I've joined with them because they understand the power of community organizing to win campaigns. Please donate to Food & Water Watch to help continue their work to ban fracking everywhere! Food & Water Watch was the first national organization to call for a ban on fracking, even when no one thought it was possible.  They believe, as do I, that the power of people is unstoppable, and when we work together we can win. It takes a lot of work, but it can be done. In an age when many organizations focus most of their energy in online organizing, Food & Water Watch invests its time and energy into building up and w...
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Jeff: We need Bill

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    Robert, If we take control of the Senate, we can block terrible right-wing judges and do serious investigations of the rampant corruption and possible collusion by the Trump team. But to take the Senate, we are going to have to win some tough races. Join me in supporting my friend and fellow Democrat, Florida U.S. Senator Bill Nelson. Bill's facing one of the worst candidates Florida has ever put on the ballot (and that's saying something!). Chip in $3 to support Senator Bill Nelson's re-election campaign. We need Bill Nelson in the Senate. And what we most certainly  do not  need is his opponent, Rick Scott, a right-wing, Trump-loving opportunist. Bill Nelson is a stalwart supporter of environmental protections, and clean air and water. Rick Scott is wrong on the environment. He backed oil drilling in the Everglades. Bill Nelson voted in favor of the Affordable Care Act. Rick Scott is a vocal critic of President Obama's signature health car...
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Jeff: Social Security is an essential building block of our economy

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    Robert -- Social Security is more than a mere “benefit” for retired Americans.  It is more than a government program.  Social Security is an essential building block of our economy , one that underpins America’s middle class and the quality of life we enjoy. Join our friends at BoldProgressives.org.  Sign the Petition: tell Congress and presidential candidates to expand Social Security! “But isn’t Social Security going broke?”  You may have heard this misinformation from your Tea Party uncle, or from the Republican presidential debate stage.  No.  Last time I checked, Social Security had $2.79  trillion  in the bank. And with some simple tweaks, like making the wealthy pay in the same rate as workers of modest means, Social Security will continue to be perfectly healthy for generations. Social Security is on firm footing, yet an outdated cost of living formula means benefits are shrinking compared to the costs seniors...
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Tom Harkin: support for Rep. Markey today.

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Dear Robert, Together you and I have made tremendous progress in raising awareness about the proposed cuts to Social Security known as the "chained CPI." I'm so proud of what we've accomplished, and I know that we will keep working to hold the line in the weeks and months to come. But right now, we have a major opportunity to make that firewall even stronger. We need to make sure Ed Markey joins me in the Senate by winning the Massachusetts special election in less than two weeks. Rep. Markey firmly opposes the chained CPI, and will stand with me to fight Social Security cuts that only serve to weaken the middle class.  He is the kind of proven progressive we need more of in the Senate, and I hope you'll join me in supporting his campaign today. Will you join me now and make an urgent contribution to Ed Markey's campaign? Ed's opponent, Gabriel Gomez, has vocally supported the chained CPI and believes we need to slash taxes even further f...
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Sheree: Spring is in the air and 420 is around the corner

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Spring is in the air and 420 is around the corner! First of all, I want to remind you that April 20th is traditionally the day for "overgrowing the Government", which we do by planting seeds!  There are many groups in legal States which promote the planting of Cannabis and Hemp seeds on this day, however, not all of us are privileged to live in areas which we can legally do this! If you are living in an area which you cannot plant Cannabis or do not feel comfortable in doing so, you can still contribute to "overgrowing" by planting as many food seeds as possible!  In your house, in your garden, in other areas of your yard, and anywhere else you can get to! Fresh vegetables and herbs are fast becoming an expensive commodity for everyone and it is something that we all must have to stay healthy! So join in a day of "planting" and overgrow the cost of food and medicine! Plant your vegetables and Cannabis where you can, and enjoy i...
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Martin: The Truth Behind "Sanctuary" Cities

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          : Over a hundred years ago, the racist anti-immigrant cartoonist, Thomas Nast, did his best to whip up anti-immigrant sentiment in the U.S.  The time was the 1880's. His cartoons portrayed the Irish as monkeys, Catholic Bishops as crocodiles climbing onto America's shores to eat up white Anglo-Saxon Protestant families, and hordes of lawless immigrants swarming off of boats to take up degenerate lives of crime in America's cities. Fast forward to the present. The Know-Nothing Party has finally taken the White House with Donald Trump's presidency. What is his top target where cities are concerned? Not infrastructure, bridges, jobs, schools, or restoring dwindling numbers of sworn officers on the streets, rather bringing "sanctuary cities under control" by cutting off any and all federal funding possible. If you are one of those Americans who works or lives in a metro area of the United States, you might scratch your head and ask: Wh...
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There’s no other way to say it. Today is a big day.

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It’s the day we officially celebrate breaking ground on the Obama Presidential Center. And we wouldn’t be here without the unwavering support of people like you—people who donated, volunteered, shared stories, and supported our vision all along the way. Of course, our work has never been just about a building. We are dedicated to helping  community leaders develop the skills they need and build the relationships that will empower them to change the world. That’s why President and Mrs. Obama took a moment yesterday, as part of our groundbreaking celebrations, to sit down with the latest cohort of Obama Foundation Scholars from the University of Chicago.  This inspiring group is working to increase diversity in Chicago’s technology sector, support women entrepreneurs in India, promote arts education that revitalizes neighborhoods, and much more.  We’re just getting started. There are wonderful things in store for the Obama Presidential Center and the young leaders it will s...
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