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Person

Valerie Jarrett

Valerie Jarrett official portrait small (link)
Nationality:

American
Occupation:

Chief Executive Officer (CEO), The Obama Foundation

Former Director of the Office of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs

Lawyer

Political Operative
Political Party:

Democratic Party
Residence:

Washington, DC

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Valerie Jarrett is a Democratic Party operative who served as a senior advisor to President Barack Obama from 2009 to 2017 and as co-chair of the Obama-Biden Presential Transition Team following the 2008 presidential election. 1 President Obama has called Jarrett “practically a sister” to him and Michelle Obama, 2 and Jarrett is considered to be “close to the top” of the list of people who helped both Obamas attain political success. 3

Jarrett has said her greatest policy concerns are gun violence, the far-left concept of gender equity, and the critical race theory-influenced concepts of racial justice and social justice. 4 She supports the far-left Black Lives Matter movement (BLM) and has called BLM protests “heartening” 5 and “incredibly positive.”6 Jarrett supports mail voting, 7 8 advertiser boycotts of programming, 9 and “systemic change” in hiring processes. 10

As of February 2024, Jarrett is chief executive officer of the Obama Foundation. 11 She also holds senior roles with several left-of-center organizations including Civic Nation, When We All Vote, 9 The United State of Women, 4 and the Innocence Project. 12 13 14

Early Career

Valerie Jarrett began her political career working for then-Chicago Mayor Harold Washington (D). 15 In 1991, Jarrett hired Michelle Obama (then Michelle Robinson), who was then engaged to Barack Obama, while working as the deputy chief of staff for then-Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley (D). 16 Jarrett later worked as planning commissioner for the Daley administration. 3

Jarrett quickly developed a close relationship with the Obama family. According to Barack Obama, Jarrett is one of their best friends and is considered to be “practically a sister.” 2 According to the New York Times, Jarrett is “close to the top” of the list of people who helped Barack and Michelle Obama attain political success. In Chicago, Jarrett took the Obamas under her wing, introduced them to the Chicago elite, and secured the contracts and money necessary for then-state legislator Barack Obama’s 2004 U.S. Senate campaign, which launched Obama’s national political career. 3

Outside of the Daley administration, Jarrett worked as the chief executive officer of the Habitat Company real estate investment firm in Chicago from 1995 to 2003. She was the chairman of the board of the Chicago Stock Exchange from 2000 to 2007, led the Chicago Transit Authority from 1995 to 2003, and practiced law for ten years in both the public and private sectors. 17 18

Obama-Biden Transition

Valerie Jarrett was the co-chair of the Obama-Biden Presential Transition Team following the 2008 election 1 and helped choose diplomatic appointees for the Obama administration. 19 In this role, she co-signed a memorandum of understanding in which Clinton Foundation chairman of the board Bruce Lindsey pledged to publish the names of all new contributors to the foundation if then-U.S Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) was appointed U.S. Secretary of State. According to reports, the Clinton Foundation failed to honor the agreement and filed incorrect Internal Revenue Service filings from 2010 through 2012. The agreement was subject to questioning when then-Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus sent a letter to Jarrett asking her for more information regarding the agreement and whether it was followed. 20

Obama Administration

Valerie Jarrett was a senior advisor to President Barack Obama from 2009 to 2017. 21 She was said to be one of the “four or five people in the room” when President Obama made many key decisions as president. 3 Jarrett oversaw the Obama administration’s Offices of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs and chaired the White House Council on Women and Girls, where she first worked with Time’s Up Foundation director and left-of-center activist Tina Tchen. 22 14

Then-White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel often clashed with Jarrett, reportedly considered her “trouble,” and tried to have her appointed to fill President Obama’s old U.S. Senate seat to get her out of the White House. 23

In her senior advisor role, Jarrett helped negotiate the controversial Iran Nuclear Deal. 24 She also led the Obama administration’s efforts on economic issues and women’s issues. She oversaw the administration’s advocacy efforts on workplace pay, childcare, minimum wage, paid sick leave, paid leave, and campaigns to change the criminal justice system, end sexual assault, and reduce gun violence. 14

During the Obama administration, Jarrett attended a closed-door meeting of left-of-center Democracy Alliance funders in 2014 25 26 and accepted an award from the pro-LGBT Out Magazine on behalf of then-President Obama. She also supported the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” celebrations of LGBT pride month at the Pentagon, and the U.S Supreme Court ruling that compelled state recognition of same-sex marriages in the United States. 27

Political Activism

Valerie Jarrett has supported left-of-center political causes since the end of the Obama administration, identifying left-wing notions of gender equity, ending gun violence, and the critical race theory-influenced issues of racial justice and social justice as some of the issues about which she cares the most. 4 In 2020, Jarrett was floated by Kathleen Parker in the Washington Post as a potential vice presidential candidate option for the 2020 presidential campaign of former Vice President Joe Biden (D). 28

Jarrett believes in the far-left Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement 29 and has called BLM protests “heartening,” and incredibly positive. 5  She supports the critical race theory-influenced concept of racial equity and praised U.S. Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) for marching with BLM protestors in 2020. 6

In an interview with the Washington Post following the death of George Floyd, Jarrett was called a “leading advocate” for the critical race theory-influenced concept of racial justice. She has said there should be a national background registry of police officers and that police officers need training in implicit and unconscious bias, as well as less military equipment on the job. 9 She has argued that the concept of “systemic racism” exists in the United States, 4 has said that everyone has implicit biases, 4 and supports “systemic change” in hiring, including the elimination of job application questions regarding criminal history. 10

Jarrett supports mail-in voting 9 8 and has said that Americans should welcome left-of-center corporate activism, including advertiser boycotts of “Tucker Carlson Tonight,” which was the top-rated program on Fox News at the time. 9

She has frequently given speeches on LGBT issues and activism since the end of the Obama administration, 30 31 is associated with the left-of-center pro-LGBT organization Out & Equal, 13 and considers herself a strong ally of the LGBT community. 32 In 2015, Jarrett supported Salesforce founder and chief executive officer Marc Benioff’s threat to take business away from Indiana if then-Governor Mike Pence (R) supported legislation that was opposed by LGBT activists. 33

In 2022, Jarrett appeared on a podcast with Avra Siegel, the director of U.S. policy programs at Facebook and a former Obama administration White House official, to discuss how to mobilize the far-left Black Lives Matter movement. 34 Jarrett criticized the Trump administration’s efforts to replace Obamacare in the 2020 presidential debates, 35 claimed that then-President Trump not conceding the 2020 presidential election “puts the country in peril,” 36 and said that former President Trump’s attacks on political opponents “are intended to silence us in obedience.” 37 In 2022, Jarrett supported and signed a letter to increase COVID-19 vaccine access and vaccination rates for “communities of color.” 38

Jarrett has participated in the Aspen Institute’s Aspen Ideas Festival 39 and given speeches on various topics including the Obama administration, women in the workforce, and how to approach the results of the 2016 presidential election. 40

Other Activities

As of February 2024, Valerie Jarrett is the chief executive officer and a member of the board of directors of the Barack Obama Foundation. The foundation was formed in 2014 near the end of the Obama administration to oversee the construction of the Obama Presidential Center and advocate for liberal projects. 11

Jarrett is affiliated with numerous left-of-center organizations, foundations, and activist groups. 21 She is the board chair of Civic Nation and When We All Vote (which is partnered with Civic Nation), 9 is the co-chair of The United State of Women, 4 and sits on the board of the left-of-center Innocence Project. 12 13 14 Jarrett also works with the left-of-center women’s activist group Time’s Up Foundation, which was run by her Obama administration colleague Tina Tchen, 22 and has spoken in an event at the center-left Milken Institute. 41

Jarrett is a trustee of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts 42 and sits on the board of the Goldman Sachs One Million Black Women Advisory Board, which is a $10 billion investment strategy to support African-American women. 43 She is a senior distinguished fellow at the University of Chicago Law School 21 and sits on the board of the Bank of America Enterprise Executive Development Council, the Microsoft Advisory Council, 44 the University of Chicago, the Economic Club of Chicago, 45 the Walgreens Boot Alliance, 46 Ralph Lauren, Sweetgreen, Ariel Investments, Attn, and others. 21 4

Previously, Jarrett was on the board of the ridesharing company Lyft, 47 chairman of the board of the Chicago Stock Exchange, director of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, Chairman of the University of Chicago Medical Center Board of Trustees, and Vice Chair of the University of Chicago Board of Trustees. She was also a director of the Local Initiatives Support Corporation and the Joyce Foundation, and a Trustee of the Museum of Science and Industry. 48 21

Political Contributions

Valerie Jarrett has made numerous contributions to Democratic Party candidates and Democratic-affiliated campaign committees. In the 2024 and 2022 campaign cycles, Jarrett made contributions to the re-election campaign of President Joe Biden and the campaign of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY). 49

During the 2020 election cycle, Jarrett contributed to the unsuccessful U.S. Senate campaign of Democratic National Committee chairman Jaime Harrison (D-SC), the presidential campaign of Joe Biden (D), the Democratic National Committee, the unsuccessful U.S. Senate campaign of Amy McGrath (D-KY), and the Democratic-aligned 44 Fund. 50 She has contributed to the campaigns of several Democrats seeking seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, the unsuccessful 2016 presidential campaign of Hillary Clinton, the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee (DSCC), and Obama for America. 49

Personal Information

Valerie Jarrett was born in Shiraz, Iran, to American parents. 16 She was raised in Chicago’s affluent Hyde Park Neighborhood and currently lives in Chicago, Illinois. 51 Jarrett received a B.A. in psychology from Stanford University in 1978 and a J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School in 1981. 21

References

  1. “Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett.” Obama Administration White House Archives. Accessed February 1, 2024. https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/administration/senior-leadership/valerie-jarrett.
  2. Zarya, Valentina. “How a Dinner Invitation From Michelle Obama Changed Valerie Jarrett’s Life.” Fortune. May 5, 2016. Accessed February 2, 2024. https://fortune.com/2016/05/05/valerie-jarrett-michelle-obama/.
  3.  Kantor, Jodi. “Chicago mentor follows Obama to Washington.” New York Times. November 24, 2008. Accessed via Web Archive February 2, 2024. https://archive.ph/uq2ff.
  4. “Episode 7 – Valerie Jarrett: How to Find Your Voice.” Maliheh Paryavi, PhD Podcast. June 26, 2020. Accessed February 2, 2024. https://www.malihehparyavi.com/podcast/valerie-jarrett.
  5. Tessa Berenson and Molly Ball. “Valerie Jarrett Says She Doesn’t Support Defunding Police Departments: ‘Democracy Depends Upon Having Law Enforcement’.” Time Magazine. June 9, 2020. Accessed February 2, 2024. https://time.com/5850011/valerie-jarrett-police-time-100-talks/.
  6. “Tweet.” Valerie Jarrett Twitter.” Posted June 7, 2020. Accessed February 2, 2024. https://twitter.com/valeriejarrett/status/1269771891184730114.
  7. [1] “Valerie Jarrett talks protests, police reform and racial equality (Full stream 6/11).” Washington Post YouTube Channel. Uploaded June 11, 2020. Accessed February 2, 2024. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tmcCxiAMNc.
  8. “When We All Vote Announces Push for Save, Secure and Accessible Elections by Expanding Vote-by-Mail, Early Voting and Online Voter Registration.” When We All Vote. April 13, 2020. Accessed February 2, 2024. https://whenweallvote.org/press/press-release/when-we-all-vote-announces-push-for-safe-secure-and-accessible-elections-by-expanding-vote-by-mail-early-voting-and-online-voter-registration/.
  9. “Valerie Jarrett talks protests, police reform and racial equality (Full stream 6/11).” Washington Post YouTube Channel. Uploaded June 11, 2020. Accessed February 2, 2024. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tmcCxiAMNc.
  10. Myers, Kristin. “Former Obama advisor Valerie Jarrett talks protests, defunding police, and criminal justice reform.” Yahoo! Finance. June 16, 2020. Accessed February 2, 2024. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/former-obama-advisor-valerie-jarrett-talks-protests-defunding-police-and-criminal-justice-reform-122130901.html.
  11. “Valerie Jarrett.” Obama Foundation. Accessed February 4, 2024. https://www.obama.org/about/leadership/valerie-jarrett/.
  12. “Valerie Jarrett Joins Board of Directors for the Innocence Project.” Innocence Project. December 11, 2019. Accessed February 4, 2024. https://innocenceproject.org/valerie-jarrett-joins-board-of-directors-for-the-innocence-project/.
  13. “Valerie Jarrett.” Out & Equal. Accessed February 2, 2024. https://outandequal.org/team/valerie-jarrett/.
  14. “Valerie Jarrett.” University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy. Accessed February 2, 2024. https://harris.uchicago.edu/files/bio_-_valerie_jarrett.pdf.
  15. “The Family Friend: Valerie Jarrett.” Newsweek. March 13, 2010. Accessed February 3, 2024. https://www.newsweek.com/family-friend-valerie-jarrett-90133.
  16. [1] Jarrett, Valerie. “Valerie Jarrett on 26-Year-Old Michelle Obama’s Unforgettable Job Interview.” Lit Hub. April 4, 2019. Accessed February 1, 2024. https://lithub.com/valerie-jarrett-on-26-year-old-michelle-obamas-unforgettable-job-interview/.
  17. Belkin, Douglas. “For Obama, Advice Straight Up.” Wall Street Journal. May 12, 2008. Accessed via Web Archive. February 2, 2024. https://archive.ph/e4ymu#selection-1347.0-1347.491.
  18. “CTA Chairman to Step Down.” Chicago Transit Authority. Accessed February 2, 2024. https://www.transitchicago.com/cta-chairman-to-step-down/.
  19. Kantor, Jodi. “Chicago mentor follows Obama to Washington.” New York Times. November 24, 2008. Accessed via Web Archive “February 3, 2024. https://archive.ph/uq2ff.
  20. Lucas, Barbara Joanna. “The Clinton Foundation.” Capital Research Center. May 12, 2015. Accessed February 2, 2015. https://capitalresearch.org/article/the-clinton-foundation-a-cauldron-of-conflicts-and-cronyism/.
  21. “Valerie Jarrett.” Obama Foundation. Accessed February 1, 2024. https://www.obama.org/about/leadership/valerie-jarrett/.
  22. Interview, “Time’s UP CEO: Misogyny is “directly related to white supremacy, it’s directly linked to violent acts.” MSNBC Interview on Yahoo!. March 19, 2021. Accessed February 2, 2024. https://www.yahoo.com/now/times-ceo-misogyny-directly-related-192817305.html.
  23. Felsenthal, Carol. “Fire Valerie Jarrett.” Politico Magazine. November 7, 2014. Accessed February 4, 2024. https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2014/11/fire-valerie-jarrett-112659/.
  24. Aronson, Geoffrey. “Why the US-Iran talks will succeed.” Al Jazeera. July 12, 2015. Accessed February 2, 2024. https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2015/7/12/why-the-us-iran-talks-will-succeed.
  25. Vogel, Kenneth P. “The left’s secret club.” Politico. April 27, 2014. Accessed February 2, 2024. https://www.politico.com/story/2014/04/democrats-democracy-alliance-liberal-donors-105972.
  26. Goodman, Alana. “Security Tight at Secretive Democracy Alliance Meeting.” Washington Free Beacon. May 1, 2014. Accessed February 2, 2024. https://freebeacon.com/politics/security-tight-at-secretive-democracy-alliance-meeting/.
  27. “WATCH: Valerie Jarrett Gives Speech on Why Obama Backs Equality Act.” Advocate.com November 12, 2015. Accessed February 2, 2024. https://www.advocate.com/politics/2015/11/12/watch-valerie-jarrett-gives-speech-why-obama-backs-equality-act.
  28. Parker, Kathleen. “The case for Valerie Jarrett as Biden’s VP.” The Washington Post. July 7, 2020. Accessed February 2, 2024. https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-case-for-valerie-jarrett-as-bidens-vp/2020/07/07/1c89caf8-c08f-11ea-9fdd-b7ac6b051dc8_story.html.
  29. Jarrett, Valerie. “Valerie Jarrett on National Black Voter Day: ‘Let’s Do it Again And Make History on Election Day’.” BET. September 18, 2020. Accessed February 2, 2024. https://www.bet.com/article/2k2qgu/valerie-jarrett-issues-message-on-national-black-voter-day.
  30. [1] “Facebook Post.” Out & Equal Workplace Advocates Facebook. Posted September 17, 2020. Accessed February 2, 2024. https://m.facebook.com/outequal/posts/4021914204501740/.
  31. “Sr. Obama Advisor Valerie Jarrett Speaks Out for LGBT Equality | LA LGBT Center.” Los Angeles LGBT Center. September 26, 2017. Accessed February 2, 2024. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oe3AN9kEnfs.
  32. “Megan Rapinoe & Valerie Jarrett – 2020 Out & Equal Workplace Summit.” Out & Equal Workplace Advocates YouTube Channel. Uploaded November 13, 2020. Accessed February 2, 2024. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2g35VkTkvjA.
  33. Rosenbaum, Eric. “Obama advisor Valerie Jarrett on how far CEOs need to go in support for racial equality.” CNBC. June 11, 2020. Accessed February 2, 2024. https://www.cnbc.com/2020/06/11/how-far-ceos-need-to-go-on-race-issues-obama-advisor-valerie-jarrett.html.
  34. “What’s Next? An Intimate Conversation with Valerie Jarrett.” Power to Fly Event. February 2021. Accessed February 2, 2024. https://powertofly.com/events/summit/what-s-next-an-intimate-conversation-with-valerie-jarrett.
  35. “Tweet.” Valerie Jarrett Twitter Account. Posted September 15, 2020. Accessed February 2, 2024. https://twitter.com/ValerieJarrett/status/1306068235884941312.
  36. [1] McKeever, Vicky. “Trump’s refusal to concede ‘puts our country at peril,’ ex-Obama advisor says.” CNBC. Thursday November 19, 2020. Accessed February 2, 2024. https://www.cnbc.com/2020/11/19/valerie-jarrett-trumps-refusal-to-concede-puts-our-country-at-peril.html.
  37. Bseiso, Faris. “Valerie Jarrett says Trump’s attacks ‘are intended to silence us in obedience.” CNN Politics. July 29, 2019. Accessed February 2, 2024. https://www.cnn.com/2019/07/29/politics/valerie-jarrett-trump-intends-to-silence-us/index.html.
  38. “2022 Impact Report.” Civic Nation. Accessed February 2, 2024. https://civicnation.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/CivicNation_ImpactReport_2022.pdf
  39.  “How Valerie Jarrett Overcame Race, Gender Barriers on Her Way to the West Wing.” Aspen Ideas To Go. 2020. Accessed February 2, 2024. https://soundcloud.com/aspenideastogo/how-valerie-jarrett-overcame-race-gender-barriers-on-her-way-to-the-west-wing.
  40.  “Valerie Jarrett Speaking Topics.” AAE Speakers. Accessed February 2, 2023. https://www.aaespeakers.com/keynote-speakers/valerie-jarrett#speaking-topics.
  41. “Valerie Jarrett.” Milken Institute. Accessed February 3, 2024. https://milkeninstitute.org/events/a0c1u00000cf19buar/speakers/valerie-jarrett?gclid=Cj0KCQiA5fetBhC9ARIsAP1UMgFCCVpOH2_0wCqFb6HYNulh0DlrqFkKN7WbDpS19VBf20pa_9uTpoYaAjHgEALw_wcB.
  42. “John F. Kennedy Center For the Performing Arts.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2017. Part VII. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/530245017/201932259349300628/full.
  43. Holland, Frank. “Goldman Sachs invests $2 billion in Black women-owned businesses – the first chapter of a bigger plan.” CNBC. April 4, 2023. Accessed February 2, 2024. https://www.cnbc.com/2023/04/04/goldman-sachs-one-million-black-women-announces-first-investment.html.
  44. “Valerie Jarrett.” Obama Foundation. Accessed February 2, 2024. https://www.obama.org/about/leadership/valerie-jarrett/.
  45. “The Economic Club of Chicago.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2019. Part VII. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/300748997/202140479349300214/full.
  46.  “Walgreens Boots Alliance Appoints Valerie Jarrett to Its Board of Directors.” Wallgreens Boots Alliance. Accessed February 2, 2024. https://www.walgreensbootsalliance.com/news-media/press-releases/2020/walgreens-boots-alliance-appoints-valerie-jarrett-its-board.
  47. Peters, Bill. “Lyft says two board members have resigned.” MarketWatch. October 13, 2023. Accessed February 2, 2024. https://www.marketwatch.com/story/lyft-says-two-board-members-have-resigned-78ae145b.
  48. “Senior Advisor Valerie Jarret.” Brown University. Accessed February 2, 2024. https://brown.edu/web/jarrett/about.html.
  49. “Individual Contributions.” Federal Election Committee donor search results for Valerie Jarrett. Accessed February 1, 2024. https://www.fec.gov/data/receipts/individual-contributions/?contributor_name=valerie%20jarrett
  50. [1] “44 Fund: Expenditures.” Open Secrets. Accessed February 1, 2024. https://www.opensecrets.org/jfc/expenditures.php?id=C00687962&cycle=2018.
  51. “Individual Contributions.” Federal Election Commission Search Results for “Valerie Jarrett” political contributions. Accessed February 4, 0224. https://www.fec.gov/data/receipts/individual-contributions/?contributor_name=valerie%20jarrett
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