Yahoo Lifestyle Michelle and Barack Obama 'Look Forward to Honoring' 15-Year-Old Girl Killed in Park Through 'Safe Space' at Presidential Center
Hadiya Pendleton, who was 15 when she was shot and killed, performed at former President Obama's inauguration events just eight days before her death
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Michelle Obama on Aug. 20, 2024Michelle and Barack Obama are remembering Hadiya Pendleton 12 years after her murder.
Pendleton was 15 years old when she was shot and killed in Chicago's Harsh Park on Jan. 29, 2013. Her death came just eight days after she performed with her majorette squad for former President Obama's inauguration events in Washington, D.C.
Now, the former first couple intends to honor Pendleton and her memory with a space inside the Obama Presidential Center, located in Jackson Park. In a post on Instagram, the Obama Foundation announced its plans to remember the "impact and light the young woman had on her friends and family."
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"The vibrant campus space honoring Hadiya will boast large windows that look out to the John Lewis Plaza. It will over a safe space for connection and joy — something that the community deserves," the foundation said, noting that "when designing the Obama Presidential Center, the Obamas knew they wanted to honor Hadiya's memory in a special way."
In a separate post, Michelle, 61, shared the personal impact Pendleton's legacy has had on her on her Instagram Stories.
"To this day, I carry Hadiya's story with me everywhere I go," Michelle wrote. "She had an extraordinary light that will not be forgotten, and Barack and I look forward to honoring her memory through a dedicated space at the Obama Presidential Center."
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Michelle Obama with Hadiya's parents, Celopatra Cowley-Pendleton and Nathaniel Pendleton, on Jan. 29, 2013Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
The Obamas have a deep connection with Chicago and a long history of giving back to the local community.
Michelle was raised in Chicago's South Shore community, and Barack moved to the city following his graduation from Columbia University. He spent three years from 1985 to 1988 as a community organizer on the South Side, which he said was "the best education I ever had." The former first couple met at a Chicago law firm, and wed at the South Shore Cultural Center in 1992.
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