Obama As Organizer and Guide

In 1985, at an annual salary of $10,000, Barack Obama became a community organizer for the Chicago-based Developing Communities Project. One of his most significant achievements was to enlist skeptical pastors of various churches as Project members.

Although he eventually became executive director of the group, Obama left for Harvard to pursue a law degree. He explained to them that he wanted to pursue a career in public life where he thought he could more effectively implement change. Before his departure, he made certain the Project finances, staff, and church members were sufficiently buoyed.