The Obama Foundation Launches ‘Community Tourism Prep Sessions’ to Help Businesses and Residents Prepare for the Opening of the Obama Presidential Center

In partnership with Emerald South and local business service organizations, the initiative will host monthly workshops starting January 2026 to prepare the community for increased tourism

December 11, 2025 at 2:00 PM CST

CHICAGO – The Obama Foundation today announced the launch of the Community Tourism Prep Sessions, a new initiative developed in partnership with the Emerald South Economic Development Collaborative and the local business service organizations and chambers of commerce, designed to help South Side small businesses and residents prepare for the significant increase to tourism expected with the opening of the Obama Presidential Center in June 2026. 

“President and Mrs. Obama are so excited for the world to experience the best that the South Side has to offer, and we’re committed to making sure that South Side residents and entrepreneurs are ready to take full advantage of this influx of new visitors,” said Valerie Jarrett, CEO of The Obama Foundation. “The Community Tourism Prep Sessions will offer essential tools, training and support - as well as build a tourism economy that reflects the strength, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit of this community.”

Beginning in January 2026, the Prep Sessions will host a series of monthly workshops that provide practical tools, business resources, and training opportunities aimed at strengthening the local tourism ecosystem. These workshops will help ensure that the economic benefits associated with the Center’s opening, such as increased foot traffic and visitor spending, are rooted in and sustained by the surrounding community.

“As a South Sider who loves telling our story, I know the Obama Presidential Center will be a game changer for local tourism, bringing new visitors to our neighborhoods and shine a light on the history, culture, and businesses that make this community special,” said Shermann “Dilla" Thomas, Chicago Historian and owner of Chicago Mahogany Tours. “These Prep Sessions will help make sure our local businesses and organizations are positioned to rise to the moment and meet the demand that’s coming. The Obama Foundation has been a true partner in working with us to lift up the entire South Side and showcase it to the world."

Small businesses and residents who are interested in participating can sign up now at obama.org/prep-sessions/ (Opens in a new tab) to be notified about how to participate in these monthly online workshops. Workshop topics will include:

  • Learning more about job opportunities at the Obama Presidential Center, covering the available positions, job application, and hiring process. 

  • Helping local residents earn extra income by sharing their homes with Obama Presidential Center visitors. Hosted in partnership with Airbnb, this session will give residents the information they need to welcome guests to their home, use the Airbnb platform, and champion their neighborhood.

  • Sharing tips on how to optimize Google Business Profile presence and review generation to maximize foot traffic.

“As the Obama Presidential Center prepares to open, we have a once-in-a-generation chance to ensure that our community’s businesses and institutions are ready to welcome new opportunities,” said Rhonda McFarland, Quad Communities Development Corporation. “The South Side is rich with entrepreneurial spirit, history, and culture, and the Prep Sessions  — with support from the Obama Foundation — will help amplify those strengths. Our agency is proud to be part of this effort to empower local organizations and entrepreneurs, build sustainable pathways, and put our neighborhoods center stage for visitors from around the world.”

Additional monthly workshops and topics will be announced later in 2026 focused on other needs of small businesses, such as strengthening operational and promotional strategies, refining digital marketing, and joining the Shared Purchasing Network (Opens in a new tab) to reduce expenses. 

“The South Side has always been rich with talent, ambition, and local pride – and this initiative is about making sure those strengths translate into lasting economic opportunity,” said Ghian Foreman, President & CEO of the Emerald South Economic Development Collaborative. “The Obama Presidential Center will bring millions of eyes and new visitors to our neighborhoods. Through these workshops, we’re making sure our small businesses and residents are ready to welcome them, compete, and grow. This is community-centered economic development at its best.”

For upcoming announcements on this workshop series, visit obama.org/prep-sessions/ (Opens in a new tab), sign-up for our Chicago newsletter, and follow The Obama Foundation on Facebook (Opens in a new tab), X (Opens in a new tab), Threads (Opens in a new tab), and Instagram (Opens in a new tab).

###

About The Obama Foundation

The Obama Foundation is a nonpartisan 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to inspire, empower, and connect people to change their world. That mission begins on the South Side of Chicago, where the Foundation is building the Obama Presidential Center. But that approach extends to all our work, whether it’s holding leadership training sessions in communities throughout the U.S., bringing local leaders together in countries around the world, working to support the global education of girls, or ensuring young men of color have pathways to opportunity. From every corner of the globe, our program participants are working together to address some of the biggest challenges of our time—from renewing our democratic institutions, protecting LGBTQ+ rights, fighting climate change, and so much more.

Contact: Emily Bittner, press@obama.org