Former President Barack Obama delivered his first public address since leaving the White House at the University of Chicago Monday morning.

During his opening remarks, Obama noted that for “three years,” he did his “best” to reverse economic disparity in the communities he represented as the junior United States senator from Illinois, but admitted he ultimately fell short of his goal.

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“I am the first to acknowledge that I did not set the world on fire, nor did I transform these communities in any significant way, although we did some good things,” he stated.

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“It did change me,” Obama continued. “This community gave me a lot more than I was able to give in return, because this community taught me that ordinary people, when working together, can do extraordinary things.”

“This community taught me that everybody has a story to tell. That is important.”

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