Press. voanews.com
Former president
Barack Obama will host civic leaders from around the world next month for a
summit aimed at promoting civic engagement. The first Obama Foundation summit
will be held on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 in Chicago. The former president said he
expects the summit “will be a place to gather and learn from one another, and
then go back to your communities to lead others in the hard work of change,” he
said in a video and email released to supporters.
More initiatives
to come
The foundation
said it is encouraging young people active in their communities to attend the
summit, which promises to be a place to “exchange ideas, explore creative
solutions to common problems and experience civic art, technology and music
from around the world.”
“In the weeks
and months ahead, we'll be kicking off more initiatives and opportunities for
people like you to get involved with the Obama Foundation's mission,” Obama
said in the video. “That mission is simple: We want to inspire and empower
people to change the world.”
The Obama
Foundation also announced it will hold “training days” across the country,
inviting young people to learn how to put civics into action. The first three
sessions will be held in Chicago, Boston and Tempe, Arizona.
My Brother's
Keeper Alliance
Also, Obama's
signature My Brother's Keeper Alliance program will become an initiative of the
foundation. It's mission is to ensure “all our nation's boys and young men of
color have equal opportunity to achieve success and prosperity.”
Obama, who has
largely stayed out of the public eye since leaving office, has in recent days
begun to emerge into the spotlight. He surprised students at a Washington, D.C.
high school on Friday, and will attend a fundraiser for the Democratic National
Committee on Sept. 27, only the second time he's publicly raised money for his
party since leaving the White House.
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