The Obama Presidential Center is estimated to attract between 625,000 to 760,000 visitors annually following a period of higher visitorship in the first few years after its opening. This figure reflects the potential economic impact and tourism boost the center will provide to the South Side of Chicago. Blacks in Green welcomes and celebrates this incredible economic opportunity. Long before the Obama Presidential Center began construction, BIG has been a leading advocate for local residents to tap into this burgeoning tourist economy.

At the recent Woodlawn Community Summit, BIG presented a dynamic 90-minute immersive community experience celebrating the voices, legacy, future tourism opportunities, and the vision of the Woodlawn & South Lakefront Visitors Center in Woodlawn. Hosted by Blacks in Green, this joyful, neighbor-driven kickoff invites residents, friends, creatives, historians, and visionaries to actively shape how our community’s story is told.

This is not just a history presentation — it’s a living, collaborative experience where participants help build local history in real time through storytelling, vision boarding, mapping, and shared civic pride. We're turning Woodlawn’s people, places, and defining moments into a celebration of our Great Migration roots and sustainable economic future.

Grab a passport and hit the road with Blacks in Green on this epic hunt for history!

Follow this link to explore three tours we will be offering in June of 2026.