Former President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama were on hand as the Obama Foundation Summit got underway in Chicago, and some big names were there to join them.
The Obamas were joined by a cavalcade of stars, including Mavis Staples and Charles Barkley, as the summit began in earnest.
The former president sat down with actress Yara Shahidi for a panel discussion entitled “What Can I Do Where I Am?,” and advised young Americans to look for opportunities to let their passion guide their future paths to success.
“Worry more about what you want to do rather than what you want to be,” he said. “The people I find who end up being most satisfied are the people who were really passionate about this thing they wanted to do. That’s what excited them.”
Earlier in the day, the former first lady sat down with her brother Craig Robinson and discussed how their upbringing helped to shape their views of the world, and how those lessons helped lead to their success and leadership in their respective communities.
“Everything Barack and I did in the White House was tied to what we were taught in our homes by our parents, our teachers, and our friends,” she said. “You don’t leave that. You bring that with you.”
The two-day event is the Obama Foundation’s largest program of the year, with the goal of bringing leaders and influential people together from around the world to share ideas and to learn how to make a positive difference in their communities.
