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On the eve of his first major post-presidency speech, former President Barack Obama met with at-risk men and boys in Chicago's South Side on Sunday, listening to their life stories and sharing with them struggles he faced as a young man.

The roundtable discussion Obama participated in was organized by Chicago Create Real Economic Destiny, founded by former education secretary Arne Duncan to teach job skills and provide employment opportunities. Obama was "optimistic about their potential to positively contribute to their communities and support their families because of the services provided in the program," his spokesman, Kevin Lewis, said. Obama's speech Monday at the University of Chicago will be to young community leaders and organizers.