OBAMA DISCUSSES YOUTH INVOLVEMENT IN BERLIN

Former President Barack Obama joined German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany, recently to discuss how young people can become better democratic leaders and serve local and global communities. According to an Obama press release, a group of young people from Mannheim, Germany traveled to Chicago through a Kirchentagrelated program in 2017, and met with young adults from the Trinity United Church of Christ on the South Side of Chicago. These selected youth learned about each other’s respective cultures and developed a musical, which was performed during the celebrations for the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. Photo by Pete Souza
Former President Barack Obama joined German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany, recently to discuss how young people can become better democratic leaders and serve local and global communities. According to an Obama press release, a group of young people from Mannheim, Germany traveled to Chicago through a Kirchentagrelated program in 2017, and met with young adults from the Trinity United Church of Christ on the South Side of Chicago. These selected youth learned about each other’s respective cultures and developed a musical, which was performed during the celebrations for the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. Photo by Pete Souza

OBAMA DISCUSSES YOUTH INVOLVEMENT IN BERLIN

By Christopher Shuttlesworth

Former President Barack Obama recently joined German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany, to discuss the topic of more young people “Being Involved in Democracy: Taking on Responsibility Locally and Globally,” according to an Obama press release.

Obama said his own public life began while working with churches in poor communities in Chicago. He said he believes in order to create a better world for everyone, it requires a sense of purpose and a sense of faith.

“I have a belief that we can change things for the better and that we can treat people with kindness and tolerance, and bridge the di£erences that exist between nations and between religions and be unified with a benevolent God,” said Obama.

Bernadette Meehan, who is a spokesperson for the United States National Security Council, said The Obama Foundation will have projects, programs and digital networks all over the world. Meehan also, said many of the programs will be formed in partnership with local organizations already doing great work in their communities.

According to an Obama press release, “a group of students from Mannheim, Germany traveled to Chicago through a Kirchentag-related

program in 2017, and met with young adults from the Trinity United Church of Christ on the South Side of Chicago. This Kirchentag-related program provided an opportunity for these young adults to learn about each other’s respective cultures and develop a musical, which was performed during the celebrations

for the 500th anniversary of the Reformation.

Obama said the world today is a very complicated place, especially with the recent violence in Manchester, but he says it’s also a time for great opportunity.

“I’m no longer president, but hopefully I still have a little influence to be in

a position to help more young people deal with some of these challenges

and encourage a new generation of leaders,” he said. “So, we can marginalize those who would try to divide us and bring together more people who are trying to unite us among a common good.”

Meehan said the Obama Foundation’s international programming will focus on creating space for a wide range of diverse participants to work together to solve local problems.

“In doing this work, we hope we’ll be able to create pathways and knock down barriers for people working on issues that have been important to the Obamas — like connecting and empowering young leaders; catalyzing entrepreneurship; narrowing inequality; combating climate change and promoting clean energy; enhancing public health; empowering women and girls; and promoting inter-communal dialogue and conflict resolution,” Meehan said.

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