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Business Wire
28-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
BIN: Black Information Network Partners with The Obama Foundation to Advance Community Engagement with Youth
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- BIN: Black Information Network, a 24/7 national audio news network dedicated to providing fact-based, objective news with a distinct Black voice, today announced its collaboration with The Obama Foundation to advance community engagement with youth. This multi-year collaboration — the first of its kind for BIN — brings together its mission to inform, educate and elevate Black voices with The Obama Foundation's commitment to empowering individuals and communities to create lasting change. Both organizations share a vision of advancing equity, social justice and civic engagement for future generations. 'This powerful collaboration will deliver important, unbiased information to our audiences, promote civic engagement, and foster inclusive dialogue. In today's news environment, our responsibility is to ensure the stories, commitment and goals of civic and community leaders are heard by our listeners and carried forward by future generations,' said Tony Coles, President of BIN: Black Information Network. 'The Obama Foundation is proud to partner with BIN in this unique collaboration to advance youth engagement,' said Valerie Jarrett, CEO of the Obama Foundation. 'Working together, we will amplify the critical work of the leaders working every day to make a difference in their communities and elevate stories of progress, unity and justice to a wider audience, inspiring collective action for a more equitable future.' This multi-year collaboration will build upon BIN's mission to provide a nonpartisan and responsible news service to the Black community while showcasing the transformative programs of the Obama Foundation, including the Leaders Program; My Brother's Keeper Alliance; Girls Opportunity Alliance; Obama Foundation Scholars; and others that empower young leaders, support educational and career opportunities and foster inclusive communities that incite leadership and sustainable change. Additionally, BIN will advance the mission of the Obama Presidential Center in the runup to opening in 2026 by sharing and distributing stories focused on President Obama's legacy, community-driven initiatives on the South Side of Chicago and engaging in national conversations around equity, democracy and change. About BIN: Black Information Network BIN: Black Information Network reaches over 19 million monthly listeners and is distributed nationally through the iHeartRadio app and is available across more than 250 platforms and 2,000 devices as well as on local AM/FM broadcast radio stations across America, including Atlanta, Chicago, New York City, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. About The Obama Foundation The Obama Foundation is a nonpartisan 501(c)(3) organization with a mission to inspire, empower, and connect people to change their world. That mission begins on the South Side of Chicago, where the Foundation is building the Obama Presidential Center. The Obama Presidential Center represents a historic opportunity for Chicago: a chance to build a world-class museum and public gathering space that celebrates our nation's first African American President and First Lady, steps away from where he began his career, where she was raised, and where—together—they made their home. Not only will the Center generate billions of dollars of economic opportunity and help reconnect and revitalize Jackson Park, but it will also serve as a reminder to young visitors—from around the city and from around the world—that their potential is limitless.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Former President George W. Bush draws inspiration close to his Dallas home in his latest paintings
DALLAS (AP) — Former President George W. Bush didn't need to look too far for inspiration for his newest works of art. The 78-year-old has brushed portraits of world leaders and people who immigrated to the U.S. But his newest collection draws on scenes much closer to home: his presidential library in Dallas. The exhibit opened Thursday at the George W. Bush Presidential Center on the campus of Southern Methodist University. Bush and former first lady Laura Bush moved to Dallas after he left the White House in 2009, and he took up oil painting a few years later. The 35 new works are an ode not only to life at the center but also SMU. The exhibit called 'A Shining City on the Hilltop" is both a nod to SMU's nickname — The Hilltop — and former President Ronald Reagan's famous use of the phrase 'shining city upon a hill' to refer to America, said Teresa Lenling, director of the presidential museum. 'This features not just the places around the SMU campus but it really takes a look at the people that are the heart of this campus and the community,' said Lenling, adding that Bush composed the paintings from photos taken around the center and campus. One of the paintings comes from the center's opening in 2013, when then-President Barack Obama and all of the still-living former presidents, including Bush's father, George H.W. Bush, posed in front of the new building. Devon Yarbrough, who works at the center, said she was 'very surprised' but pleased to spot her herself in one of the paintings. She's depicted reading a book on her lunch break while sitting on a bench under tree in the center's 15-acre park. This is the fifth exhibit of George W. Bush's art to be featured at the center. His first exhibit was a collection of portraits of world leaders including including former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Dalai Lama. He's also done a collection of paintings of military veterans, which were featured in his book 'Portraits of Courage,' and painted portraits of people who immigrated to the U.S., which are compiled in his book 'Out of Many, One.' The exhibit is on display through Oct. 19.
Newsweek
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Obama Library Update: Foundation Hits Back At Trump Claims
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, originally envisioned as a new landmark for the city's South Side, has hit back at claims of mismanagement from President Donald Trump. Despite the Obama Foundation's optimistic public updates, the project has faced major cost overruns, construction disputes and criticism from Trump. Newsweek contacted the Obama Foundation for comment on this story via email. The Context The delay and ballooning budget have made the project a flashpoint. The center's cost has nearly doubled from its original estimate and is now projected at close to $1 billion. The Obama Foundation has said that the project is privately funded and does not rely on taxpayer dollars. What To Know In a statement on Tuesday, the Obama Foundation reaffirmed its commitment to the center's vision, saying on X (formerly Twitter): "We can't wait to open our doors to the Obama Presidential Center next spring! "In addition to a world-class museum, the 19.3-acre campus will feature a gymnasium, a fruit and vegetable garden, a branch of the Chicago Public Library, a playground, and so much more." The Obama Foundation's official updates say that work has proceeded to close the exterior of the main building, install glass and granite, and fit interior windows on museum levels. Additional insulation has been completed in other structures. However, Trump weighed in on the project during an Oval Office meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Tuesday, calling the project a "disaster," sharply criticizing its management and blaming "woke" hiring practices for its issues. Former President Barack Obama points out features of the proposed Obama Presidential Center, which is scheduled to be built in nearby Jackson Park, during a gathering at the South Shore Cultural Center on May 3,... Former President Barack Obama points out features of the proposed Obama Presidential Center, which is scheduled to be built in nearby Jackson Park, during a gathering at the South Shore Cultural Center on May 3, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. More Getty Images In response, the Obama Foundation pushed back on the president's remarks. "Everyone who sees the Obama Presidential Center is blown away by its beauty, scale and the way it will be an economic engine for Chicago and a beacon of hope for the world," Emily Bittner, the foundation's vice president of communications, said in a statement to Newsweek. "We look forward to welcoming all visitors to the 19.3-acre campus next spring, to experience a presidential center that not only honors the Obamas' legacy but also lifts up the next generation of leaders." The foundation also responded to the suggestion from Trump that work on the project had "stopped," saying that the president's characterization was not based on fact, and that it was instead a minor dispute between subcontractors that did not directly involve the foundation. The center was first announced with a budget of around $500 million. However, in 2022, the project cost had increased to about $830 million. What People Are Saying President Donald Trump said on Tuesday: "I mean look, President Obama—and if he wanted help, I'd give him help because I build on time and on budget—he's building his presidential library in Chicago. It's a disaster. And he said something to the effect, 'I only want DEI, I only want woke.' "He wants woke people to build it. Well, he got woke people and they have massive cost overruns; the job is stopped. I don't know, it's a disaster." What's Next The Obama Foundation says work will continue at pace to ready the site for public visitors in 2026.
The Hill
06-05-2025
- Business
- The Hill
Obama Foundation touts progress on library after Trump mockery
The Obama Foundation touted progress on the construction of its presidential library Tuesday after President Trump mocked builders for being behind on developing the property. 'We can't wait to open our doors to the Obama Presidential Center next spring! In addition to a world-class museum, the 19.3-acre campus will feature a gymnasium, a fruit and vegetable garden, a branch of the Chicago Public Library, a playground, and so much more,' the Obama foundation wrote in a post on the social media platform X. A separate post thanked all the workers for contributing to the project. The comments follow Trump's Tuesday statements criticizing the time it's taken to develop the library. 'I mean look, President Obama — and if he wanted help, I'd give him help because I build on time and on budget — he's building his presidential library in Chicago. It's a disaster,' Trump said during a Tuesday presser with Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney. 'And he said something to the effect, 'I only want DEI [diversity, equity and inclusion], I only want woke.' He wants woke people to build it. Well, he got woke people and they have massive cost overruns, the job is stopped. I don't know, it's a disaster,' he added. The Trump administration has attempted to outlaw DEI in the public and private sectors through a series of executive orders. The Obama foundation responded to the president's criticism in a Tuesday statement by commending visitors experience. 'Everyone who sees the Obama Presidential Center is blown away by its beauty, scale and the way it will be an economic engine for Chicago and a beacon of hope for the world,' a spokesperson wrote in a statement to The Hill.
USA Today
06-05-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Donald Trump mocks Barack Obama's presidential library
Donald Trump mocks Barack Obama's presidential library Show Caption Hide Caption Michelle Obama breaks silence on skipping Trump inauguration Former First Lady Michelle Obama denies divorce rumors with her husband, and says she is reevaluating her public appearances. Donald Trump and Barack Obama continue to throw shade at each other, this time with the president taking jabs over his predecessor's unfinished and long-awaited library and museum. During the Oval Office meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on May 6, Trump, a longtime New York real estate mogul, was discussing the difficulties of construction and took a detour rip on his reported troubles with the project. "President Obama – and if he wanted help, I'd give him help because I'm a really good builder and I build on time, on budget – he's building his library in Chicago, and it's a disaster," Trump said. The Obama Presidential Center is an ambitious 19-acre project being built as a tribute to the former president in the heart of a South Side neighborhood. The construction is about halfway complete, according to the former president's foundation, but it has been besieged by significant delays and has gone well over budget. Its initial cost of $350 million, has ballooned to $830 million. The center was originally supposed to open in 2021, but last year officials announced it wouldn't be open to the public until 2026. But supporters say the center, which is privately funded, is aimed at revitalizing a historic public park in Chicago's South Side with various community partners and projected to generate $3 billion in economic activity. Plans for the facility include building a forum for local and international gatherings, an athletic center for the community, a walking trail, a great lawn, a sledding hill and a playground. It is projected to be a catalyst for economic development. "Everyone who sees the Obama Presidential Center is blown away by its beauty, scale and the way it will be an economic engine for Chicago and a beacon of hope for the world," Obama Foundation spokeswoman Emily Bittner told USA TODAY in a statement. "We look forward to welcoming all visitors to the 19.3-acre campus next spring, to experience a presidential center that not only honors the Obamas' legacy but also lifts up the next generation of leaders." Trump's critiques went further during the Oval Office meeting. He argued the Obama library's woes were due to its emphasis on hiring local and minority-owned companies. The Obama Foundation has said that about 35% of subcontractors would be minority-owned businesses, 15% would be women-owned and 9% would be from the greater Chicago area. "And (Obama) said something to the effect of, 'I only want DEI. I only want woke.' He wants woke people to build it,' Trump said. "Well, he's got woke people.' But earlier this year, the project took a reputational hit after a Black-owned subcontracting company filed a racial discrimination lawsuit against another contractor. The foundation is not a party to that dispute, however, and officials said it would have no impact on the center's opening timeline. Obama has been critical of Trump 2.0 The two men were cordial to one another at the funeral of former President Jimmy Carter earlier this year, even sharing a laugh, but Obama hasn't shied away from expressing his disapproval of Trump's use of executive authority in his second term. In April, for example, Obama encouraged universities and law firms to resist the administration's actions and stick up for democratic values. He slammed the Trump administration for cancelling federal contracts to firms connected to political rivals and moving to block hundreds of millions for colleges and universities that refused to ban the use of masks and eliminate diversity programs, for example. "That kind of behavior is contrary to the basic compact we have as Americans," he said, challenging the audience at Hamilton College in New York: "Imagine if I had done any of this." Obama also took a swipe at Trump for booting the Associated Press from official events in retaliation for the news agency's refusal to adopt Trump's renaming of the Gulf of Mexico, the Gulf of America. "Imagine if I had pulled Fox News' credentials from the White House press corps," Obama said in April. "You're laughing, but this is what's happening." As of late, Trump, who pushed the false claim that Obama was not born in the United States a decade ago, has been somewhat complimentary of Obama. During the 2024 presidential campaign, for example, he referred to Obama as a "nice gentleman" whom he happened to "like and respect." When entertaining the unconstitutional idea of seeking a third term, Trump perked up at the idea of running against Obama. "I'd love that, boy, I'd love that," he said.
