19 Years Ago: The Spark That Ignited Hope
On this day—February 10, 2007—in the shadow of the Old State Capitol in Springfield, Illinois, where Lincoln once summoned a divided nation to unite, a young senator stepped forward with unshakable conviction.

“I stand before you today to announce my candidacy for President of the United States.”
In biting cold, amid ordinary Americans wrapped in coats and dreams, Barack Obama dared to believe: that hope could triumph over cynicism, that change was not a slogan but a force awakened in every heart.
He spoke of common hopes, shared dreams, and the audacity to reclaim a more perfect union. What began as one man’s bold declaration became a movement that shattered barriers, inspired millions, and proved that courage + belief can rewrite history.

From that frozen morning emerged the first African American President—and a reminder that ordinary people, united, can move mountains.
The fire still burns.
Let it light your path today.