Press Release

September 20, 2024

Dr. Shobana Powell Announced as 2024-2025 Obama Foundation Leader

Palm Coast, FL — Today, Dr. Shobana Powell announced that she is among 205 leaders selected to join the Obama Foundation Leaders program. The program trains participants around the world in leadership development and civic engagement to help build their skills and scale their work across public, private, and nonprofit sectors. Dr. Powell will be one of just 100 Leaders participating in the Leaders USA program. 

Dr. Shobana Powell is the CEO and founder of Shobana Powell Consulting, a firm that provides national training and technical assistance to support organizations serving survivors of human trafficking. She developed the Survivor Equity and Inclusion Framework, a model for how organizations can ensure their work is ethically and sustainably led by the communities they serve. Under her leadership, her team has trained more than 25,000 professionals and consulted on over 100 projects across the United States. Dr. Powell holds a Bachelor's degree in Social Work from New York University, Master’s degree in Social Work from Columbia University, and a Doctorate in Social Work from University of Southern California. Through her 15 years of experience leading programs to address gender-based violence across rural and urban communities, she has lived and worked in Louisiana, New York, California, and now Florida.  

As part of the six-month 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. 

The Obama Foundation Leaders USA Program, now in its second year, was inspired by the leadership values and approach of President and Mrs. Obama. The program draws on the Foundation’s ‘Hope to Action’ curriculum to support Leaders in engaging diverse perspectives, building collective power, and making tangible, sustainable progress towards a better world. The Leaders USA Program has a particular focus on strengthening democratic culture. 

The Obama Foundation Leaders program is designed to further inspire, empower, and connect emerging leaders from Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe, and the United States to change their respective communities and the world. To learn more, visit obama.org/leaders.

To learn more about Dr. Shobana Powell and her work, visit shobanapowellconsulting.com. 

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