A grand opening is planned for June at the $850 million Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, but the celebratory atmosphere is shadowed by a call for a significant number of unpaid volunteers.
The foundation is seeking 75 to 100 “ambassadors” to greet visitors, provide directions, and share information about the center’s exhibits – a 22-story museum tower, athletic facilities, and a public library branch – all without compensation.
This recruitment drive occurs alongside substantial salaries earned by the foundation’s leadership. Recent filings reveal the CEO, Valerie Jarrett, a long-time advisor to the former president, received $740,000 in both 2023 and 2024.
The foundation defends the volunteer program as an extension of Barack Obama’s commitment to civic engagement, echoing his early work as a community organizer in Chicago. Volunteers, they state, will embody the foundation’s values both within the center and throughout the surrounding community.
While the foundation anticipates employing around 300 paid staff, the disparity in compensation has drawn attention. Tax records show a considerable increase in overall salaries and benefits, climbing from $18.5 million in 2018 to $43.7 million in 2024.
Several former Obama White House officials now hold executive positions at the foundation, each receiving six-figure salaries. David Simas, a former political director, earned over $600,000 annually during his leadership tenure, while others have earned between $300,000 and $400,000.
The foundation champions the center as a major economic driver for Chicago’s South Side, projecting $3.1 billion in economic activity and 5,000 construction jobs over a decade. An economic assessment by Deloitte Consulting LLP supports these claims.
Efforts have been made to prioritize local hiring, with over 50% of construction contracts awarded to diverse firms and a significant portion of the construction workforce drawn from South and West Side communities. Hundreds of residents have also participated in pre-apprenticeship programs.
The opening is strategically scheduled for Juneteenth, a federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery, aiming to imbue the center’s launch with a powerful message of progress and opportunity.
Despite the ambitious economic projections and community outreach, the reliance on unpaid labor raises questions about the foundation’s priorities and the true cost of realizing its vision.
