Former President Obama And Mrs Michelle Launch The Obama Foundation Summit As Event Kicks Off In Chicago

The Obama Foundation started off it first ever leadership summit in the former president's home-town at the Great Lakes Ballroom of the Marriott Marquis, Chicago on Tuesday.
The summit which launched by Mr Barack and Mrs Michelle Obama, lasted for two days, hosted more than 500 attendees which were addressed in speeches and interviews by world-class politicians entrepreneurs, artists, philanthropist, academics, IT specialists and royalty.
The 44th President of the US Mr Barack Obama on addressing the audience in his opening speech, described the summit as a "big brainstorming" session and desired to make sure its transcend into what will make a difference in "civic culture".
"Our goal here is not to create a political movement. Some of you maybe aspiring to be politicians," he mentioned "But I also believe that the moment we're in right now, politics is the tail and not that dog. What we need to do is think about our civic culture."

Mrs Michelle Obama and session host professor Elizabeth Alexander

On the second day, Mrs Michelle Obama had a conversation with a poet and professor Elizabeth Alexander on issues about life after the White House.
When asked about where she draws inspirations from, the former FLOTUS recalled impact her parents made in her life and that has made a difference in many aspect of her everyday life.
 "When I think about the words that stay in my head that guide me," she recalled her parents' words in her life "It’s the voice of Marian and Fraser Robinson. Words don’t have to be poetic they don’t have to be set to music."

Prince harry with Michelle and students from south-side of Chicago

"Most of the words that guide us are those words that we’ve heard growing up...It wasn’t just their words it was their actions [to be] openhearted, empathetic and to make your life useful and to define that usefulness as broadly as you can.”
Not leaving out her husband in her conversation, she talked about the role those words have guide her through choice making.
"Those words guide me, and they led me to Barack Obama, who reminded me very much of my own father,” She said.

Left to right: Common and Lin-Manuel Miranda

Also at the summit, was Grammy and Oscars award winner rapper Common who had a conversation with awards winning Lin-Manuel Miranda on final day of the event.
The pair discussed at length, how their endeavours have made difference in their respective communities.

Former President Obama reminds the rapper Chance when he first get to know him since 8 years

At the closing of the summit, the attendees left the Great Lakes Ballroom for dinner then, for a musical concert where Chicago-born rapper Chance The Rapper performed alongside Lin-Manuel Miranda.