Promise of the South Side

The Obama Foundation worked alongside hundreds of passionate community organizations, dedicated leaders, local groups, and residents of the South Side to bring the Center to life. 

Every element of the Center, from the creation of our land acknowledgement to our programs for teens and kids , has been shaped by the voices and spirit of the community.

The Obama Presidential Center is rooted on the South Side of Chicago, a community that nurtured the values and spirit of President and Mrs. Obama. It is transforming decades of disinvestment into opportunity, spurring $3.1 billion dollars in new economic activity over the next 10 years, bringing hundreds of thousands of visitors to the South Side, and creating thousands of jobs. 

In addition to the thousands of construction jobs created through the building of the Center, the Foundation is partnering with four community-based organizations—Cara Collective North Lawndale Employment Network, Skills for Chicago, and St. Sabina Employment Resource Center—to prioritize hiring local residents for 150 full-time positions at the Obama Presidential Center.  With a focus on celebrating the community, the 150 positions help support the visitor experience for the hundreds of thousands of visitors expected each year. 

The Center will be the home to many new programs built to enrich the lives of our South Side residents. Working in partnership with neighboring organizations, the Center will offer  sports programs for young people, gardening and community activities, physical activities for the elderly, events for families, talks and experiences from noted leaders in multiple fields, and more. 

Emerald South Economic Development Collaborative is a non-profit organization dedicated to building community wealth on Chicago’s South Side. Its projects include empowering small businesses to save more through group buying and supporting a land care initiative to beautify, maintain, and activate vacant land.

Urban Growers Collective (UGC) is a Black women-owned non-profit farm dedicated to fostering a more equitable and just local food system. UGC strives to dismantle structural barriers and historical inequities in food by providing education and training in urban agriculture. Through their work, UGC develops new opportunities for economic stability while generating meaningful cultural and community impact.

Get moving with Street Ropez, a Black, women-owned business based in Chicago that champions community wellness, confidence, and culture through movement. Serving as one of several new retail partners, Street Ropez [link to Street Ropez page in shop] offers a spirited contribution to the Obama Presidential Center’s focus on health, celebrating the legacy of Mrs. Obama’s "Let’s Move!" initiative and her dedication to making physical activity a source of joy.

Hyde Park Academy, situated directly across from the Center, remains a vital partner in the Foundation’s dedication to South Side youth. Our collaboration reached a milestone in 2022 with the Futures Series , a year-long initiative connecting students with prominent leaders to explore diverse career paths. With the upcoming opening of the Presidential Center, we look forward to deepening this partnership by providing students access to specialized environments like the Teen Action Lab and Media Suite to further their personal and professional growth.

After School Matters, one of the nation’s largest and most impactful providers of after-school and summer program opportunities for teens, will serve as the Center’s signature youth programming partner. These collaborative programs will support teens’ growth, leadership, and well-being. Through the Teen Action Lab ,  Chicago high school students can explore their passions, gain exposure to industry professionals, and develop their talents. 

Originally established at Chicago Booth in 1998, the Polsky Center provides venture support and robust training for students and community members in entrepreneurship and innovation in the fields of venture capital and private equity. The Obama Foundation partnered with the Polsky Center to host panels and trainings for small businesses to share how they can get involved and use the Obama Presidential Center’s resources.