<aside> 💡 Update: I’ve written about this experience in Puck, where I’m a founding partner and writer.
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On Friday November 3, 2023, I served as MC for the Obama Foundation’s second ever Democracy Forum in Chicago. The Foundation serves to inspire, empower, and connect leaders and changemakers around the world, and it was an honor to hold space for and help support the event in this way.
In addition to the Democracy Forum, the foundation was celebrating the 15 year anniversary of Obama’s first election as president. As part of my hosting duties I got about 15 minutes on stage with President Obama and was able to convey some of what his life’s work and legacy have meant to me personally as well as how they’ve shaped my approach and focus in the How To Citizen work.
My full website is at baratunde.com in case you want me to speak at or host your event or are curious to see my other non-Obama work 😉
<aside> 📺 You can view the full six hours of programming here. Below, I’ve embedded some selected moments from the day.
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https://www.youtube.com/live/gbog2qF5x-A?si=tdeOLDhXq4jJKqS7&t=551
https://www.youtube.com/live/gbog2qF5x-A?si=3plfzgmFr-Zne_rz&t=18125
<aside> 💡 The evening program shifted from the Democracy Forum to the 15 year celebration/reunion which was way more emotional than I expected. I had flashbacks to canvassing in Philly (and Virginia, and Texas…) and the friends I made along the way. The Pod Save America team did a live recording with the President, and he offered expanded thoughts on the tragedy unfolding in Israel and Palestine I think are worth listening to.
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