Obama Foundation program that has trained hundreds of young leaders across Africa, the Asia-Pacific and Europe is being expanded to include the United States. Former President Barack Obama is expected to announce the new program on Thursday during a two-day democracy forum the foundation is co-sponsoring in New York City.
The Obama Foundation Leaders United States program is a six-month leadership development program for emerging leaders between the ages of 24 and 45. The program will serve more than 100 leaders from the U.S. in its first year. Participants will be chosen through a competitive application process.
In remarks prepared for delivery on Thursday at the forum, Obama cites “consistently high interest” in the foundation’s programs as a reason for the expansion. “The creativity, determination and passion of these leaders are already making an impact — in lives saved, environments restored, children educated,” he says. “They’re creating new models for clean energy generation and poverty alleviation. It’s remarkable and inspiring — and a little humbling, since I sure wasn’t making such an impact at their age. “And the good news is, we’re just scratching the surface of what this next generation is capable of,” Obama says.
The Obama Foundation Leaders program has worked with more than 700 people in Africa, the Asia-Pacific and Europe since it was launched in 2018 after Obama, a Democrat, left the White House following two terms as president, according to the foundation. Valerie Jarrett, a longtime Obama adviser and CEO of the Obama Foundation, said the U.S. extension of the leader’s program is a “continuation of our efforts to pay it forward by helping the next generation.”
The foundation, in partnership with Columbia University and the University of Chicago, is holding its first democracy forum in New York on Thursday and Friday. Democracy thinkers, leaders and activists from across the globe will discuss how to advance and strengthen democracy in the United States and abroad. Obama is scheduled to close the first day of the forum with a speech and a conversation with a group of foundation leaders.
Some of the speakers included were: Lee C. Bollinger, President, Columbia University, Dr. Paul Alivisatos, President, University of Chicago, Valerie Jarrett, CEO, Obama Foundation, Anil Dash, CEO, Glitch, Leni Robredo, 14th Vice President of the Philippines, Alex Soros, Deputy Chair, Open Society Foundations, Tabata Amaral, representative, lower house, National Congress of Brazil, Rep. Ro Khanna, House of Representatives (D-California).
Gift Ostallos Siziba, Africa Leader 2022, who went on to introduce President Obama., President Obama’s speech started off by “We hope this event gives everyone who believes in democracy the confidence that they can help make it stronger,” he wrote in a note to supporters. “Because if we want democracy to flourish, we will have to fight for it, we will have to nurture it, and we will have to demonstrate its value, again and again.”
It was a great forum, bringing many leaders worldwide in one room. You can see many of the speakers in our World Liberty TV, Political Channels and Blogs by clicking here.
The parade is a tradition beloved by the Dominican community, but it is only the tip of the iceberg for our organization! For us, the Dominican Day Parade is much more than a parade.
Throughout the year, we hold various events including workshops, scholarships, food drives, the annual gala, and parade kick-off events in all five boroughs.
The Dominican Day Parade, Inc. is a nonpartisan, 501(c)(3) nonprofit, that organizes the annual parade and festivities that promote the richness of the culture, folklore and popular traditions of the Dominican Republic.
The organization strives to provide an understanding of the heritage and contributions of the Dominican community in the United States of America and throughout the world.
The mission of the Dominican Day Parade of New York City is to celebrate the richness of the Dominican culture, folklore, and popular traditions.
The Parade highlights promote and acknowledge the heritage and contributions of the Dominican community in the United States and throughout the world.
The parade is a tradition beloved by the Dominican community, but it is only the tip of the iceberg for our organization! For us, the Dominican Day Parade is much more than a parade.
Throughout the year, we hold various events including food drives, the annual gala, and parade kick-off events in all five boroughs.
Understanding the value of education, the Dominican Day Parade takes great pride in providing scholarships and mentor opportunities to exceptional students of Dominican descent.
Through the funds raised from our annual gala, we granted $200,000 in scholarships in 2019 to support awardees through college and post graduate institutions.
Helping these promising young people continue to excel in their future ventures allows us to achieve our primary goal: to support and celebrate the Dominican community!
THE NATIONAL DOMINICAN DAY PARADE: The Dominican Day Parade is a joyful celebration of all things Dominican. Each year, we come together in New York City to honor our heritage and culture and to recognize the many accomplishments Dominicans have made in United States, and around the world. With music, dancing, and over 10,000 marchers, there is plenty of fun to go around; this is an event you do not want to miss!
Moving Forward and uplifting our community takes perseverance, resiliency, hope, adaptation, growth, and transformation that will lead to a victory in all situations. The individuals we are recognizing this year all exemplify these attributes of Advancing la “Dominicanidad”
Wilton Cedeño, 2020 National Dominican Day Parade Chair, Maria Khury Co-Chair of the scholarship committee, and two scholarship recipients Rafael Baez and Daniela Peña Gomez discussed with Joe Torres from ABC how the Parade funds help students in this crisis.
A single float filled with Dominican Spirit made stops in a couple of New York City’s Dominican communities. The first stop was to honor the community in front of the United Palace in Washington Heights.
The second stop was to honor our first responders at the North Central Bronx Hospital in Norwood, The Bronx. The parade was started to celebrate Dominican culture, folklore, and traditions.
Organizers announced this year’s event with the theme 40 years of Uplifting, Empowering & Elevating the Dominican Legacy.
The parade’s Grand Marshal is New York City Department of Transportation commissioner and Dominican Republic native Ydanis Rodriguez.
Many Political leaders were on hand to support and march in the parade, which included: Kathy Hochul ,Governor of New York State, Mayor Eric Adams, Senator Charles Schumer, Congress member Adrienna Adams, New York City Council Speaker, Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, Congress Member Adriano Espaillat , Jumaane Williams, New York City Public Advocate, Brad Landers, New York City Comptroller, Bronx DA, Darcel D. Clark, Assembly Member David Weprin, Assembly Member Manny de Los Santos, and many more in attendance.
See More in our World Liberty TV, Political Channels and blogs by Clicking here.
