Community - Tré Nation

Unconventional Artistry

In the midst of change, social and political disarray, and division, art is something that has the power to bring people of all walks of life together. For some, communal artistry can lie in painting or animation; for me, the heart of it lives in the theatre. When I was around 6 years old, I remember going to Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C. for the first time to see its yearly production of A Christmas Carol. As a young girl, always inspired by the theatre, I found joy in watching a produ

art Business

Mariya Dempsey

5 min read

Obama Inspires Future Changemakers

At 9:30 a.m. on Friday, July 24th, nearly 100 high school freshman girls trickled into the auditorium at the Obama Presidential Center and sat in seats that formed a half-circle around the stage where the panelists were seated. Some of the girls conversed and laughed, while others danced in their seats to Justin Timberlake’s “Can’t Stop the Feeling.” The event kicked off at 9:58 a.m. with opening remarks from WNBA brand strategist Nina Kossoff: “We’re powerful on our own, but when we come tog

Community Culture

Tré Exclusives

4 min read

The Pieces That Make the Picture: Paul Tetreault and the Art of Building Community

While we navigate change in our world, trying to fit each other together like puzzle pieces that don’t quite seem to nestle into the right cracks, art has a way of being the glue. Like a puzzle, every piece in the production of theatre has a purpose. Every production is made possible not only by the actors on stage, but also by directors, designers, educators, administrators, technicians, donors, audiences, and more. Each person is a piece of the picture, helping create something that couldn't

art Community

Mariya Dempsey

5 min read

Diamond Diplomacy: How Baseball Became a Bridge Between Nations

A century before modern diplomacy matured, baseball quietly united the U.S. and Japan. Diamond Diplomacy reveals how Biz Mackey helped transform sport into a powerful global language of connection.

Sports Community

Mariya Dempsey

1 min read

"This Is Your Library": The Obamas Surprise Students at the Obama Center

President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama surprised 25 students from nearby Hyde Park school William H. Ray Elementary at the Obama Presidential Center's Chicago Public Library branch at 10:15 a.m. The Obamas came out to read Maurice Sendak's children's classic "Where the Wild Things Are" and spent about 24 minutes reading as well as taking pictures with the students and teachers afterwards. "Are you telling stories up in here?" President Obama said to the kids after walking into the main read

Culture Community

Tré Exclusives

3 min read

A Surprise Welcome: The Obamas Greet First Visitors to Their Presidential Center

In a surprise appearance, the Obamas greeted the first 100 visitors to the Obama Presidential Center that first opened to the public on Juneteenth on Chicago's South Side. In awe, guests shook hands with former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama against the backdrop of a colorful, 38-foot-tall painting depicting a map of Chicago stretching to the ceiling – inspired by Carl Sandburg's 1914 poem about the city: "stormy, husky, brawling, City of the Big Shoulders." The room is framed by

Culture Community

Tré Exclusives

3 min read

The Power Behind The Curtain: Paul Tetreault

In the midst of change, social and political disarray, and division, art is something that has the power to bring people of all walks of life together. For some, communal artistry can lie in painting or animation; for me, the heart of it lives in the theatre. When I was around 6 years old, I remember going to Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C. for the first time to see its yearly production of A Christmas Carol. As a young girl, always inspired by the theatre, I found joy in watching a produ

Community Culture

Mariya Dempsey

5 min read

President and Mrs. Obama Welcome First Visitors to Presidential Center

On a Friday morning on Chicago’s South Side, President Obama and Mrs. Obama kicked off the public opening of the Obama Presidential Center with a special story time for children and families. Together, the Obamas read Maurice Sendak's beloved classic Where the Wild Things Are – which celebrates the power of imagination, curiosity, and storytelling – while welcoming a new generation to the Obama Presidential Center. The event reflected one of the Center's core missions: inspiring young people t

Community Culture

Tré Exclusives

2 min read