No matter what I’ve accomplished, who I’ve met or where I’ve gone, one of the greatest honors of my life is being a proud Chicagoan—a daughter of the South Side. I still
lead with that descriptor. I wear it boldly and proudly.So when it came time to decide where we’d build the Obama Presidential Center, Barack and I knew the South Side of Chicago was where we wanted it to be. This investment will help make the neighborhood we call home a destination for the entire world. But more importantly, it will be a vital resource for the people who live here.
This center will be a place where folks can find work, and where kids can learn, grow, and envision bigger lives for themselves. And we hope it’ll be a place that can invigorate the existing restaurants, small businesses, neighborhood organizations, schools, and churches that are the lifeblood of this community.
That’s what this is about for us—giving a little something back to the people and place we both love so much. We can’t wait to see it come to life.