Community Tourism Prep Sessions
Learn how to get the most out of the increase in South Side tourism when the Obama Presidential Center opens in June.
- The Center
- Community Engagement
- Chicago

We cannot wait to welcome all South Side residents and business owners to join us for a series of FREE monthly ONLINE workshops on how to benefit from the increased tourism to our neighborhoods expected when the Obama Presidential Center opens in June.
Launching in January 2026, these workshops will offer practical tools, business resources, and training to capitalize on the increased foot traffic and visitor spending expected in our neighborhoods. This series is hosted in partnership with the Emerald South Economic Development Collaborative and the local business service organizations and chambers of commerce.
These sessions are for you if you are:
a resident of the South Side.
the owner of a business on the South Side.
a manager of a business on the South Side.
a franchisee of a business on the South Side.
Sign up today to be notified about how to participate in these monthly online workshops.
Things to know:
Signing up to be notified is the first step in attending. Each session will cover a different topic. Topics will be shared ahead of time and will require a separate registration in order to receive the workshop link.
The sessions are free to attend.
We will not be rewarding contracts nor is attendance a guarantee of future business or collaboration.
More than one person from a business or residence can register to attend.
The sessions will be conducted in English.