Former President Barack Obama introduced a new project on Tuesday (Feb. 28) to inspire local change through a mentorship program that encourages political opponents to work together.

"Our country is changing," Obama declared in a video statement. "Yet, I continue to believe that there is more that connects us than divides us.”

The Change Collective will first be offered to candidates in Chicago, Detroit, and Jackson, Mississippi, during the first year of the program. The initiative will be part of Civic Nation, a nonprofit created by Obama administration alumni to work on topics such as voting rights and sexual assault prevention.

Plagued by an opposition party that devoted itself to obstructing his initiatives at every turn, Obama knows something about how to get things done despite resistance. In a video announcing the program, the 44th President brought his trademark charm and audacity to invite people to work with him.

Since leaving office, the former president and his wife, Michelle Obama, have been working on projects to foster leadership through their Obama Foundation. The Obama Presidential Center being developed in Chicago also wants to be a focus of action.

The Change Collective's six-month enrollment period spans from June to January and aims to educate and encourage activists by exposing them to learning modules, case studies, and practical activities. Of course, sharing resources is part of the plan, and bringing leaders of business and industry to the participants is key.

Work entails both online and in-person learning, with time commitments required. The purpose is to expand on already created work or ideas. To be selected, applicants must demonstrate they are already trying to change the place they live for the better.

The collective encourages applicants from all backgrounds to apply and will pay the mentorship program's $950 fee, which includes monthly travel to the collective's office and lab in Detroit.

The application period is open until April 14.