The call didn’t specifically come from Obama — although Love and the former president have known each other since the 2012 Olympics. About a week ago, a member of the Obama Foundation reached out to Love’s team and invited him to participate in a panel discussion about a number of different topics on Saturday in Chicago. “They could have picked anybody. I immediately said yes and knew that it was going to be incredibly powerful,” Love said. “Just for what he symbolizes and what he means, he just elevates any room, any situation. He’s a symbol of hope and people want to be on the winning side of history. I’m just trying to further that. Just any small step that I can as far as what I’m doing.”