A young Indian American urban planner and activist joined Barack Obama and five other panelists in Chicago on stage in the former President’s first public appearance since leaving office, reports the New India Times
Harish Patel is Deputy Director of the non-profit of New American Chicago. He also ran for Congress, but lost in the Democratic primary in 2015.
“With respect to failure, it’s terrible,” Obama is quoted as saying to Patel in the Chicago Sun Times. “But sometimes it’s necessary. If you are trying to change something.”
Obama recalled that he lost in the 2000 primary to Rep Bobby Rush.
“Worry less about what you want to be and more about what you want to do,” said Obama.
Patel decried the “cult of personalities” that dominate politics.
“I ran for office to see what is the best way to live my life … and to make people of color believe they can do literally anything,” Patel said.
You can watch the entire appearance entitled Political Activism and Civic Engagement by Mister Obama here.
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