What impact do you believe the Obama Presidential Library could have in Chicago?
“Cultural institutions change lives. I meet someone every week who tells me that their career, their life path got started by an inspiring moment in the Museum of Science and Industry. And that happens in art museums. It happens in history museums. It happens in aquariums and zoos. These are life-changing institutions and life-saving institutions, and this presidential library will be like that as well.
If the presidential library were to be built here, it would create not only great civic pride but also great civic opportunity for learning. The inspiration, the leadership, the role model for kids all over the city would be enormous. I can't think of anything greater as a role model than a president, first lady, and their family for our youth.
It would also definitely have an economic impact. All of our museums in Chicago spin off economic activity. They create jobs. They bring tours. And they have many other direct and indirect benefits.”
Why do you support bringing the Obama Presidential Library to the South Side?
"The soul of the South Side of the City of Chicago is where the President and First Lady's careers took off and their values were formed. So, they are a part of this community. Putting the Obama Presidential Library here would ground it in their history, their roots, their life, their passions. And I know they care about the community, and I know they care about the kids who would be positively influenced just by having it near their communities.
The South Side is also very accessible. Many of the city's 46 million annual visitors already come to the South Side for existing cultural attractions. It's only 10 to 15 minutes from the Loop, the center of the city, and you can reach it by bus, by rail, or by car.
If you add up all of the benefits, all of the historical connections, all of the neighborhoods, and the youth that will be positively influenced ... there's nothing better, there's nothing more to be fulfilled within a location."
What kind of collaborations between the community and the Obama Presidential Library do you foresee?
“There will be a lot of scholarly work done at the library, but it's also going to include a museum. And there will be many opportunities for collaboration and partnership with other cultural institutions, particularly to serve school children in the area. The Museum of Science and Industry, for instance, sees more than 1.4 million visitors a year, including more than 350,000 school children.
We also have an organization of cultural institutions in the mid-South Side that meets monthly to strategize together about how to bring greater visibility, attractions, and tourism to the community. So, there's already a working network of cultural institutions that could support the Barack Obama Presidential Library with programs and other ways that they could work together. Every one of the cultural institutions would be working to think of collaborative programs we could operate.”