Citizen Stories with StoryCorps

During an especially grueling summer, we spent a month capturing a glimpse of Pastor Tracey Lee’s day-to-day life as a violence interrupter, a pastor, and a supermom. Across several weeks, we witnessed the faith, love, and unyielding hope this young Black woman brought to her community in Englewood, as she worked to make our City, Chicago, safer.

his month marks 60 years since the original 13 Freedom Riders--among them, a 21-year-old John Lewis--set out on two buses from Washington, D.C. to challenge the segregation of public transportation. In the weeks following their May 4, 1961 departure, the Freedom Riders were threatened, arrested, and attacked by violent mobs throughout the Deep South. They attracted the attention of the nation and...

This month marks 60 years since the original 13 Freedom Riders--among them, a 21-year-old John Lewis--set out on two buses from Washington, D.C. to challenge the segregation of public transportation. In the weeks following their May 4, 1961 departure, the Freedom Riders were threatened, arrested, and attacked by violent mobs throughout the Deep South. They attracted the attention of the nation and...

This month marks 60 years since the original 13 Freedom Riders--among them, a 21-year-old John Lewis--set out on two buses from Washington, D.C. to challenge the segregation of public transportation. In the weeks following their May 4, 1961 departure, the Freedom Riders were threatened, arrested, and attacked by violent mobs throughout the Deep South. They attracted the attention of the nation and...

Mrs. Obama extends heartfelt thanks to the many healthcare workers in Chicago who are on the frontlines, working around the clock to treat patients and save lives during the time of COVID-19. "You all embody the very best of who we are and I know we will get through this crisis because of you," said Mrs. Obama in a recorded message shared with hospitals across the city of Chicago. Listen to her me...

President Obama discusses the importance of MBK Alliance's work across the country, during a conference call on April 24, 2020. "If we can give them a hand up, if we can give them mentorship and tools and interventions and resources and love and support, not only can they succeed for themselves, but our communities and our country will be stronger for it," President Obama said to hundreds of MBK A...

President Obama emphasizes the importance of community leaders coming together to combat the impacts of the global pandemic, during a conference call on April 15, 2020. "It's about providing hope, perspective, and sound plans for moving forward," President Obama said to 100 Chicago community leaders and South Side residents. Listen to excerpts from the call.

President Obama recognizes the important work of faith leaders across the country to keep our communities safe during a conference call on April 9, 2020. “Now more than ever though, engaging with our community is vital,” President Obama said to leaders of the faith community. Listen to excerpts from the call.

Dillon M. from Norwalk, CT reflects on Inauguration Day 2009. He was in kindergarten.

President Obama Reflects on the 2008 Election by Obama Foundation

Cortney C. remembers where she was and what she was doing on election night in 2008.

Living outside of Paris at the time, Evelyn C. shares her memories from election night in 2008.

Jared M. reflects on then-Senator Obama's announcement of candidacy for the US Presidency in Springfield, IL.

Graça Machel, Thulisile Madonsela, and Bogolo Kenewendo pariticpate in a session on “Leadership in the Face of Adversity” moderated by Nozipho Mbanjwa as part of the Obama Foundation Leaders: Africa program in Johannesburg, South Africa on July 16, 2018.

President Obama is traveling to Germany to join Chancellor Angela Merkel for a conversation about civic participation at the iconic Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. They won’t be alone: President Obama and Chancellor Merkel will be joined by four inspiring young civic leaders -- two from Mannheim, Germany, and two from Chicago. We spent time with these inspiring young people — teacher Sierra Sims and a...

President Obama is traveling to Germany to join Chancellor Angela Merkel for a conversation about civic participation at the iconic Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. They won’t be alone: President Obama and Chancellor Merkel will be joined by four inspiring young civic leaders — two from Mannheim, Germany, and two from Chicago. We spent time with these inspiring young people — teacher Sierra Sims and ac...

President Obama is traveling to Germany to join Chancellor Angela Merkel for a conversation about civic participation at the iconic Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. They won’t be alone: President Obama and Chancellor Merkel will be joined by four inspiring young civic leaders — two from Mannheim, Germany, and two from Chicago. We spent time with these inspiring young people — teacher Sierra Sims and ac...

President Obama is traveling to Germany to join Chancellor Angela Merkel for a conversation about civic participation at the iconic Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. They won’t be alone: President Obama and Chancellor Merkel will be joined by four inspiring young civic leaders — two from Mannheim, Germany, and two from Chicago. We spent time with these inspiring young people — teacher Sierra Sims and ac...

Lilly Ledbetter filed a wage discrimination suit against the Goodyear Tire Company upon discovering she was making 40% less than male peers. Her unsuccessful suit led to the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009.

Regina Jimenez tells her husband Edgardo about her struggle with life-threatening illnesses since age 12. She worked 60-hour weeks to pay her medical bills until the Affordable Care Act passed in 2010.

Maday Martinez talks with her friend Marvin Centeno about fleeing Cuba as a baby, and returning 22 years later once diplomatic relations were restored under President Obama.

Radcliff Sadler and his brother Theodore are teenagers who immigrated to New York as young children from Jamaica. They talk about how Radcliffe came to attend Pathways In Technology Early College High School (P-Tech), a public high school in a low-income area of Brooklyn, where students receive an education in computer science and complete two years of college work, graduating with a Associates De...

Known as "the First Barber", Zariff has been cutting President Obama's hair for over 20 years. He speaks to Ishmael Alamin—the owner of the Hyde Park barbershop in Chicago where he works—about the origin of the "Obama look" and what the President Obama's election has meant to the local community.

In January 2013, Cleopatra Cowley-Pendleton's 15-year-old daughter Hadiya Pendleton was shot and killed in a random act of gun violence on Chicago's South Side. The week prior to her death, Hadiya had marched in President Obama's second inauguration parade as a drum majorette. When First Lady Michelle Obama learned of Hadiya's tragic death, she reached out to the family.

Maxine Jolly and Al Jacoby met in 2009 while working for the Deconstruction Work Services Training Program in Chicago, a green job program funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Maxine is recovering from addiction and spent time in prison, and had been unable to find work until that point. Al gained a job as Maxine's supervisor thanks to the program.