Our global impact
Hope to Action
The Hope to Action curriculum is a core component of the Obama Foundation Leaders Program. It equips emerging leaders with essential skills for effective, values-based leadership. This curriculum, introduced in 2023, is structured into four modules and includes sessions focused on articulating personal values, connecting with others through shared values, and creating sustainable change. It aims to foster hope, courage, and community among participants by offering practical tools, peer learning, and opportunities for deep reflection. The curriculum supports leaders in activating their values, enhancing their impact, and connecting with a global network of changemakers.
Meet Elpida Kokkota
She is a 2023 Obama Foundation Europe Leader. Elpida empowers women through economic education with her nonprofit, Mexoxo, which develops social impact plans for corporations and small to medium businesses to support community socioeconomic growth.
Mexoxo has directly served over 31,000 women worldwide.
“We connect women with our network of over 250 global stakeholders from corporations, academia, government, and local NGOs. I founded Mexoxo to create pathways of change for women, their families, and their communities,” Elpida said.
Driven by the hope for a better future for women and girls, she shared, “My hope is that women and girls live in more balanced societies where humans respect each other for who they are. I want all women to find their place in the world.”
Leaders convening in Athens
President Obama joins over 100 Obama Leaders in Athens, Greece
The Obama Leadership Network
The Obama Leadership Network launched in 2023 with support from existing Obama program alumni from 2018. The community now includes 1,081 Obama Leaders, Fellows, and Scholars from nearly 150 countries. This expansion underscores the Foundation's commitment to activating more people to participate in democracy, connecting them with the resources to succeed, and building trust in institutions and communities worldwide.
The Obama Leadership Network engages leaders across various key areas: 30% in democracy, rights, and inclusion; 22% in climate issues; 18% in economic growth and community development; 14% in education; 10% in social entrepreneurship and technology; and 5% in health-related issues.
Highlights from our programs
