JACQUELINE Che of the CNMI is one of the 35 individuals selected to participate in the Obama Foundation Leaders Asia-Pacific program.
The program trains participants in leadership development and community engagement to help build their skills and scale their work across public, private, and nonprofit sectors. This year’s cohort represents 23 nations and territories across the region.
Che is the founding member of “Full Belly, Full Hearts,” a volunteer-led initiative providing meal distribution and referral services for unemployed and underemployed individuals who seek it. This includes résumé writing; printing, uploading or submitting application documents; referrals to social services; and job search and placement assistance; assisting small businesses and farmers access federal grants to support their livelihood.
The Obama Foundation, in a statement, said, “As part of the six-month, non-residential program, these dedicated changemakers will convene virtually each week for interactive sessions designed to help them drive change by honing their leadership skills, building deep relationships with their peers, and engaging with thought leaders and members of the Obama Foundation community.”
They will also have an opportunity to participate in various virtual experiences and special events, including one-on-one conversations with experienced mentors in the foundation’s global network.
Former President Obama’s familial ties to the region, his time in Indonesia as a young man, and his upbringing in Hawaii have informed his values and his faith in the passion of this generation of changemakers across the Asia-Pacific.
Launched in 2019, the program is creating a network of leaders who drive positive, innovative change in their communities throughout the continent and across the globe. The 2022 class of Asia-Pacific Leaders are working across a broad range of issues and focus areas, including climate change, indigenous rights, education, and more.
The Obama Foundation Leaders program is designed to further inspire, empower, and connect emerging leaders from Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Europe to change their respective communities and the world. To learn more, visit obama.org/leaders.
In a letter to Che, the Obama Foundation welcomes her to the 2022 Leaders Asia-Pacific program.
“It was an honor to meet each of you and learn about the work you do, and we are excited to start this journey with you. This year’s program is bringing together an incredible cohort of 35 people from 23 nations and territories in the region. Your cohort of Leaders work on a range of issues — including the climate crisis, indigenous rights, and education — and span the civil society space and private and public sectors,” the foundation told Che in a letter.
In 2019, the CNMI’s Rep. Sheila J. Babauta and Samantha Birmingham-Babauta were selected to participate in the first cohort for the Obama Foundation Leaders Asia-Pacific program in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
