Members of the first cohort of Obama Foundation Scholars outlined professional hurdles and personal achievements in “Citizen-Leaders: A Conversation with the Obama Foundation Scholars,” a broad-ranging discussion on civic leadership held at Low Library on Columbia’s Morningside Heights campus this month.

“Active citizenship is about beating self-doubt. You just have to take the risk, take the chance. Speaking up is not enough, do something,” Ana Maria Gonzalez-Forero said to the audience, made up of a mix of undergraduate and graduate students, faculty members and alumni. Gonzalez-Forero was one of four participants from the Obama Foundation Scholars program, which brings together rising leaders from around the world who have demonstrated a commitment to finding solutions to challenges in their communities. The other participants were Alice Barbe, Hong Hoang and Trisha Shetty. The Columbia Spectator’s article on the event, which outlines the details of the discussion and how it fits into a broader Columbia strategy to better engage students in global initiatives, is available here.