So the Obama Presidential Center dedication is finally happening this Thursday . Feels like this has been in making for nearly a decade now.
And it looks like a huge event with global leaders,artists and changemakers all coming together . They have performances from some very big names like Bruce Springsteen,Christina Aguilera,and John Legend .
But one detail catching everyone's eye is the guest list . Every living president is apparently attending except Donald Trump,who was not invited . And that part is getting lot of attention online.
This whole thing is meant to celebrate Barack Obama's legacy and also people who supported him . Valerie Jarrett,who is CEO of the Obama Foundation now,said it clearly,"This is celebration for those who helped get President Obama where he is."
And honestly,this feels more like a community celebration than just some political thing .
Few key things about this new center:
- The campus is huge,spanning more than 19 acres.
- It is not presidential library,so it won't house official documents.
- It has many community-focused things like library branch,gardens and even recreational facilities.
The design itself is very community-centric . There is a museum part showing what life was like during the Obama administration,but also branch of the Chicago Public Library,an NBA regulation-size basketball court,and a garden for female leaders from Chicago . That is not a small thing ah.
So the dedication weekend starts with the performances on Thursday,and then the museum opens for public on Friday . Even though it is not proper presidential library,they will have some records and artifacts on loan for people to see.
This is a big new chapter for Chicago's cultural scene for sure . I expect it's going to get major attention from all over the world,not just locally.
It will be interesting to see how this center actually impacts the community in long run,not just as another tourist spot…
