President Barack Obama went home to say goodbye.
"Hello, Chicago! It's good to be home!" Obama said.
Thousands of supporters wanted to hear their hometown hero speak one last time as president.
"It means a lot," one supporter said. "It means a lot to the city and the citizens here in Chicago for him to come back and say goodbye to all of us."
It seemed change was on everyone's mind.
"This is where I learned that change only happens when ordinary people get involved, get engaged and come together to demand it," Obama explained.
"We really care about the direction of health care in the next few years," a medical student said.
"We need to do a lot more in our local communities, focus on local elections and try to get change going from there," an Obama supporter said.
Obama offered some advice for those uncomfortable with the future.
"I think we're all looking for some hope and words of inspiration as we head into a turbulent and unknown four years up ahead," an attendee worried.
Despite a loss for Democrats in 2016, Obama's supporters still clung to the 44th president's message of hope.
"If you're disappointed by your elected officials, grab a clipboard, get some signatures and run for office yourself," Obama said. "Show up. Dive in. Persevere. Sometimes you'll win. Sometimes you'll lose."
"It was a belief that we all had, and eight years later, everybody here still has," one man said. "But we're still fighting for it. We're not there yet. We're obviously not there."
"Yes we did; yes we can," Obama said. "Thank you, God bless you, and may God continue to bless the United States of America."
