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Hi there,
Thank you for your continued support as we bring the Obama Presidential Center to life, and happy International Museum Day!
As the director of the Obama Presidential Center Museum, my role is to tell the story of our nation’s first African American President and First Lady’s two terms in the White House, and the journeys that led them there. It’s a story rooted in Chicago’s South Side, with moments of progress, setback, and hope along the way.
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But this Museum is not just telling the story of a historic presidency—it will bring the Obama Foundation’s mission to life and will be a testament to the power of ordinary people working together to create lasting change. In that spirit, we look to those who lived through that history to help us tell it. Through local community events and online open calls, anyone in the world can share the meaningful objects they held onto from President Obama’s campaigns and his time in office for possible inclusion in the Museum’s collection.
That’s why this International Museum Day, I hope you’ll take a moment to explore some of the artifacts and stories we’ve discovered during our community events and learn more about the Museum.
Our collection will also pay tribute to those who came before the Obamas and made their story possible. We’ve sourced artifacts that shine a light on our nation’s founding ideals, the activists and movements and moments of inspiration—both local and global—that challenged us to live up to them, as well as Chicago’s own prominent role in the expansion of civil rights and community engagement.
Even though the Museum hasn’t opened yet, it’s already bringing people together to honor the stories of a history-making movement. When it does open, it will be a stirring reminder that we all have the power and responsibility to create an even brighter future for our communities and for our world.
I hope you’ll be a part of it.
Stay healthy and safe,
—Louise
P.S. As part of our International Museum Day celebrations, I’m joining Chicago-based artist Theaster Gates for a live conversation at 12pm CT on the Obama Foundation’s Instagram account. Tune in to learn more about our work!
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Help build a Presidential Center that will revitalize the South Side of Chicago, unite a new generation of leaders to move us forward, and work together to change history.
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