The long-awaited Obama Center formally opened Thursday in Chicago, attracting a crowd of celebrities, political leaders, community activists and supporters as former U.S. President Barack Obama used the occasion to deliver a powerful message about the need to safeguard democracy.
The huge site on Chicago’s South Side is meant to be a center for leadership development, civic participation and community empowerment, as well as helping to keep alive the legacy of Obama’s historic presidency.
Speaking to a crowd of thousands, Obama underscored the need of people’s engagement with democratic institutions, warning that democracy can not thrive without public accountability and engagement.
“Democracy doesn’t take care of itself,” Obama said to the crowd. “It takes engaged citizens, who are willing to organise, to listen and to work together to solve common problems.”
Former First Lady Michelle Obama also spoke to the gathering, emphasising the center’s purpose to inspire young people to be leaders in their communities and the world.
The inaugural event was graced by a galaxy of high-profile guests from politics, entertainment and sports. Chicagoans, civil rights leaders, business leaders and celebrities celebrated the completion of a project that has been in the planning for years.
The Obama Center includes a museum detailing the life and administration of Barack Obama, interactive exhibits, educational facilities, and public gathering places and programs aimed at inspiring civic engagement in future generations.
Supporters of the project praised the center as a major cultural and educational investment in Chicago’s South Side, with officials anticipating it will draw tourists from across the U.S. and throughout the world.
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Yet the initiative has not been without its controversies. Some community groups and environmental advocates have previously highlighted concerns about building in parts of Jackson Park and the effect on nearby neighbourhoods. In the meanwhile, proponents say the center will bring jobs, tourism and economic development to the region.
In the ceremony, Obama addressed the problems faced by democracies around the world, including political polarisation, misinformation and waning public trust in institutions. He urged residents, especially the youth, to be positive and play an active part in moulding the future.
The Obama Center will be one of Chicago’s most iconic cultural institutions, a monument to the nation’s first Black president and a hub of civic participation for generations to come.
The opening is a big milestone for the Obama Foundation and the result of years of planning, fundraising and building that began shortly after Obama left office in 2017.
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