As President Barack Obama’s 8 years at the White House came to an end, everyone wondered what they would do next. On the morning of the inauguration of President Donald Trump, the Obamas released this video sharing future plans and asking Americans for help on www.obama.org.
“First, we are going to take a little break. We are finally going to get some sleep and take some time to be with our family and just be still for a little bit so we might not be online quite as much as you are used to seeing us,” stated Michelle.
“But before that, we want to invite you to help us with just one of the projects that we are excited to work on when we get back,” added the former President, sharing the website for the new presidential center that will be based on the south side of Chicago.
Set in the heart of historic Jackson Park, on Chicago’s South Side, the Obama Presidential Center will tell the story of the Obama Administration, its achievements, challenges and lessons learned — as well as the millions of Americans, in and out of government, at all levels of society, who made them possible.
The Center will also house the archives of Administration materials, both traditional documentation and multimedia content of the first truly digital president, the website explained.
Although the Presidential Center will be based in Chicago, it will have projects all over the city, the country, and the world. The Obamas explained that it will be more than a library or museum, “it will be a living, working center for citizenship.”
Because the mission of the center is to be inclusive, they are asking everyone to share their ideas, hopes, and believes on what we can achieve together, including leaders, companies, and organizations that inspire you.
“This will be your presidential center just as much as it is ours, so we want all of you to tell us what we should be thinking about as we get to work,” Michelle concluded.
Barack added: It’s going to take all of you and your ideas to make it a reality. As I have said many times before, true democracy is a project that’s much bigger than any one of us. It’s bigger than any one person, any one president, any one government. It’s a job for all of us. It requires everyday sustained effort from all of us. The work of perfecting our union is never finished and we look forward to joining you in that effort as fellow citizens.”
Ideas, suggestions, and feedback can be submitted here.
David Simas will serve as Chief Executive Officer of the Obama Foundation, according to a Dec 19th statement. Simas will join the Obama Foundation leadership team, including Chairman Marty Nesbitt and Executive Director Robbin Cohen, to lead the Foundation’s work to create the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago.
“In the year ahead, the Obama Foundation will continue the important work of creating a Presidential Center that inspires citizens and communities to take on big challenges. I am honored to be serving the President and First Lady and thrilled to be a part of working to fulfill this mission,” Simas said, in a release.”
.@BarackObama is stepping into the most important office in a democracy: Citizen. Join him for the work ahead at https://t.co/aGSLPSDtgE pic.twitter.com/QuWCAbwCDA
— The Obama Foundation (@ObamaFoundation) January 20, 2017
