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 unfolds as financial disclosures reveal substantial salaries for those at the foundation’s highest levels. The organization’s CEO, Valerie Jarrett, a long-time advisor to the former president, earned $740,000 in both 2023 and 2024.
Tax filings demonstrate a considerable increase in overall compensation within the foundation. Total salaries and benefits rose from $18.5 million in 2018 to $43.7 million in 2024, coinciding with an expansion of staff to 337 employees and revenue nearing $210 million.
The foundation frames 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 touts the center as a $3.1 billion economic catalyst for Chicago’s South Side, promising 5,000 construction jobs and significant economic activity, the reliance on unpaid labor raises questions about equitable distribution of benefits.
The center’s opening is strategically scheduled for Juneteenth, a federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery, a date intended to resonate with themes of progress and opportunity. However, the contrast between high executive salaries and unpaid volunteer positions adds a layer of complexity to this symbolism.
Former White House officials continue to hold prominent positions within the foundation, with several earning six-figure salaries. David Simas, a former political director, received over $600,000 annually, while Adewale Adeyemo, now a Deputy Treasury Secretary, earned approximately $540,000 during his time with the organization.
The foundation emphasizes that volunteerism is a long-held value, central to President Obama’s vision for a vibrant civic life. Jarrett herself stated the volunteers will be instrumental in bringing the center’s vision to life, welcoming the world to Chicago.
The 19.3-acre campus in Jackson Park is poised to become a landmark, but the reliance on unpaid ambassadors to facilitate its operation highlights a disparity between those who benefit financially from the project and those who contribute their time and effort without pay.
