Michelle Obama: Former FLOTUS to launch groundbreaking new 'landmark' with Barack

The event will include young leaders from around the world and participants of programmes run by the Obama Foundation. The theme of the Presidential Centre is “Places Reveal Our Purpose”.

The summit will show how the Obama Presidential Centre “connects to a growing global network of leaders”, according to officials.

The brand new centre will be built along the lakefront of Chicago’s South Side, which is near where former US President Barack Obama started his political career and lived with his family.

The centre will reportedly cost $500million (£406.8million) and will include a public library, multimedia suites and will have community programs.

The summit is Michelle and Barack’s third.

The new centre’s website said it represents an opportunity to build a “world-class museum and public gathering space” that will celebrate America’s first African-American President and First Lady.

The site reads: “The Centre will be a new landmark for the South Side and an economic engine for the city of Chicago.

“It will draw hundreds of thousands of visitors every year, creating thousands of new jobs on the South Side, while giving new life to Frederick Law Olmsted’s vision of a cohesive, walkable, and iconic Jackson Park.

“The campus will remove barriers and seamlessly connect the park to the lakefront, unifying it with other local South Side institutions.

READ MORE: Michelle Obama speaks out on Meghan Markle ‘breaking the mould’

Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, has been labelled as an “inspiration” by Michelle for her charity work.

The Duchess, who is currently on a royal tour of South Africa with husband Prince Harry and their four-month-old son baby Archie, was congratulated by the former First Lady for “breaking the mould”.

Sharing a photo of Meghan with leaders of the Obama Foundation, a charity launched by Barack to address challenges facing people of colour, Mrs Obama said: “Thank you to my friend, Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Sussex, a thoughtful leader who is breaking the mould and making our world better for it.

“Whether meeting with our leaders or helping girls around the world seek the education they deserve, she is an inspiration to so many.”

Before becoming First Lady, Michelle attended Princeton University and Harvard Law School.

She had a career as an attorney at a Chicago Law firm called Sidley & Austin, where she also met her husband Barack Obama.

She then worked at the Chicago mayor’s office, the University of Chicago and the University of Chicago Medical Centre.

Her best-selling memoir, ‘Becoming’, sold more copies than any other book published in the US in 2018.

The first time she met Barack, she did not think much of him.

Before she dated him, she asked her brother to take him out on the basketball court.

source: express.co.uk