Today, Lottie Ferguson 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. Lottie will be one of just 100 Leaders participating in the Leaders USA program.
Lottie Ferguson serves as the Vice President of Development and Donor Services at the Community Foundation of Greater Flint, where she connects donors with community needs and works to build the foundation’s endowment. Her focus on enhancing Flint’s social, economic, and environmental resilience includes addressing mental health, reducing poverty, and promoting post-secondary education. Lottie is also deeply committed to environmental causes, advocating for clean water access, securing funding for green spaces and innovative technologies, and elevating climate change conversations in urban communities locally and nationally.
Her commitment to the Flint community is evident through her board service with organizations such as Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Flint, Delta Institute, Flint Promise Zone Authority, Greater Flint Health Coalition, and Hamilton Community Health Network. She is also a member of the Flint Area (MI) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated. A graduate of Central Michigan University and the University of Michigan–Flint, Lottie plays a key role in Flint’s ongoing renewal, ensuring that the community not only survives but thrives.
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.
"We are incredibly proud of Lottie Ferguson’s selection as an Obama Foundation Leader for the 2024-2025 program. Her dedication to fostering social, economic, and environmental resilience in Flint is an inspiration to all of us at the Community Foundation” said Mark Miller, Interim President & CEO of the Community Foundation of Greater Flint. “This recognition underscores the impact of her work not just locally, but globally, as she continues to advocate for positive change in communities across the world. We look forward to seeing the new ideas and collaborations she brings back to Flint through this incredible opportunity."
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.
