Hope Has An Address: Leadership Without Borders

In this week’s Hope Has an Address, host Bridgette “Bri” Wood spotlights the Obama Foundation's Leaders Africa program, which "seeks to build a growing network of innovative and values-based changemakers who will drive positive change in their communities, the continent, and the world."

This episode introduces listeners to young Black leaders tackling some of the most pressing challenges of our time — from advancing climate justice to expanding access to education. Their work reflects the power of community-led solutions and the global reach of the Foundation’s mission to develop visionary leadership.

Listen now!

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hope in the face of difficulty, Hope in the face
of uncertainty, the audacity of hope.

Speaker 2 (00:08):
I'm asking you to believe not in my ability to
bring about change, but in yours.

Speaker 1 (00:14):
Yes we can. In every story we tell, Hope lives
here where history meets opportunity, progress, and empowerment.

Speaker 3 (00:22):
Leadership doesn't always come with a title. Sometimes it starts
with a question. A question whispered in a crowded classroom,
murmured on a quiet walk home, or even wrestled with
in the middle of a sleepless night. What can I
do to make things better? Welcome to Hope as an address.
I'm Bree Wood with the Black Information Network. Today we're

(00:47):
diving into how the Obama Foundation's leaders Program is helping
young change makers, especially black change makers, turn that question
into action.

Speaker 1 (00:57):
The Leader's Program is one of the gateway into being
able to bring in these wonderful folks who are already
providing leadership in their respective communities.

Speaker 4 (01:10):
They really embody this notion that the Obama Foundation really
believes in around having hope and translating that into some
kind of action that's going to have a positive impact
on communities.

Speaker 3 (01:23):
Building community and leading with heart. This is leadership without borders,
across neighborhoods and nations. The Obama Foundation's leaders Program is
lighting the way for young black leaders. They're not waiting
for permission, They're creating the blueprint. These young people are
claiming their voice and vision, supported by a network that's

(01:45):
all about mentorship, collaboration, and growth. They're learning to lead
in a way that brings others with them, because true
leadership is about making sure the climb is shared. Through
hands on workshops, leadership summits, and ongoing support, they're gaining
the tools to make real change in their communities. It's

(02:05):
not about titles or recognition. It's about being present, serving
others and making a real impact. It's about showing up
even when it's hard. Somewhere, a young visionary walks through
open land, not just seeing what is, but dreaming of
what could be. He's thinking about turning waste into energy,
or feeding his people and protecting the land, about building

(02:28):
something that will last. The Leader's Program brings together educators, entrepreneurs,
and civic leaders from all over the world, different languages, hometowns,
and different struggles, but one shared truth. Leadership is more
than just being in charge. It's about being of service,
and our former First Lady Michelle Obama knows this better

(02:49):
than anyone and says collaboration is the key to success.

Speaker 5 (02:53):
The power comes in you multiplying yourselves around the world
so that there are millions upon millions of people and
communities all over the place doing good things and making
change and building real sustainable work. That's how change happens,
and that's the vision for the Obama Foundation.

Speaker 3 (03:12):
This is what happens when leadership is collective, when borders
stone boxing are brilliant, when hope is passed hand to
hand across time zone, traditions, and generations. These young leaders
aren't waiting for change. They are the change in classrooms
and clinics, in startups, and stories, in quiet moments of
courage that ripple outward. Our former President Barack Obama shared

(03:36):
with past leaders what his hope is for them now.

Speaker 2 (03:39):
My pledge to you is that you're now part of
my activist family, and I hope that you are part
of each other's network and family, and that we continue
to build it and grow it and you're supporting each
other for years to come.

Speaker 3 (03:53):
The leader's program is preparing them for the future while
helping them shape it together. To learn more about the
Leaders program or support these incredible change makers, visit Obama
dot org. You can also join the conversation on our
website at binnews dot com. I'm Breewood for the Black
Information Network