We have a lot of things to look forward to in June, including the grand opening of the highly anticipated Obama Presidential Center.
This significant occasion coincides with the launch of the new Woodlawn & South Lakefront Tourism Center, which will celebrate the culture and history of the South Lakefront through a selection of half-day bike tours, walking journeys, and culinary experiences.
These curated tours will delve deep into the essence of Black culture, highlighting the profound innovations and historical narratives that have shaped the region, including architecture & real estate development, gardens & environment, performance & the arts, and the great migration & Obama’s journey.
A new South Side tourism hub is launching with a weekend of Black culture tours
The Tourism Center is a community initiative led by Blacks in Green (BIG), a national network dedicated to closing America’s racial wealth gap through the green economy.
BIG is developing a Sustainable Square Mile, modeled after the walk-to-work, walk-to-learn, walk-to-shop, and walk-to-play neighborhoods that were common in Black communities during the Great Migration. At the center of this Sustainable Square Mile is the Emmett Till and Mamie Till Mobley House Museum, which is currently undergoing restoration. Mamie Till Mobley purchased their home on St. Lawrence Avenue in 1951 during the Great Migration.
For the launch of the Obama Presidential Center, Blacks in Green and its partners will conduct guided tours before its grand opening this September. Each tour will be offered twice daily, from 9 AM to 12 PM and from 2 PM to 5 PM, from Friday, June 19, to Sunday, June 21.
Check out the Tourism Center‘s soft launch
Tour 1: Freedom & Sustainability—All Roads Lead to Till” Bike Tour
Ride from the lakefront through historic parks, public art, and community gardens, visiting the Obama Presidential Center, Jackson Park, and the Emmett Till and Mamie Till Mobley House Museum.
Tour 2: Wellness & Culinary Tour—Delicious South Side
Explore Black-owned restaurants, wineries, and cafes in Woodlawn, Bronzeville, and South Shore. Focus: savoring Black cuisine while learning about the 8 Principles of Green-Village-Building, culture, and the circular economy.
Tour 3: Great Migration Legacy Tour—“The Sustainable Square Mile Rises
Discover Blacks in Green’s sustainability initiative in West Woodlawn, including the Emmett Till and Mamie Till Mobley House Museum, Mamie Till Mobley Forgiveness Garden, and Shrine of the Great Migration. Focus: connecting the South Side’s rich Black history with a vision for the future.
These tours are the Tourism Center’s soft launch, with the grand opening planned for Labor Day weekend.
