STRATEGIC ADVISORY
We help clients navigate the noise, manage the process and define the narrative. Our ability to step in and coordinate programs that inform the general public, elected officials, civic and business leaders, community advocates and other stakeholders on client issues and opportunities is unrivaled.
Obama Presidential Center
Challenge
The Obama Presidential Center (OPC) is the signature project of the Obama Foundation and promises to be a transformative development for the neighborhoods that surround it, the City of the Chicago and the State of Illinois. In an effort to secure safe passage of the $500 million OPC through complex entitlement approvals, the Foundation assembled a large team of consultants to assist on everything from building grass roots public support to political support and everything in between including social media, polling, and programming.
As public and political pressure began weighing in on the pros and cons of the development, it became imperative that the consultants and their work were organized into a disciplined, strategic effort to secure support and approval of the OPC.
Strategy
Our team was engaged to provide strategic counsel and public affairs work with the Presidential Center Public Engagement team. Our firm helped refocus all the consultants on public facing efforts, reshaping the conversation from negative messages articulated by a vocal minority to the transformative power the Presidential Center will have on the South Side and the city.
Our team worked with the Public Engagement team and other consultants to build towards a successful presentation to the Chicago Plan Commission and later the Chicago City Council. We directed elected official engagement and prioritization, recommended the formation of a group of stakeholders who became a driving force in the public support of the Presidential Center, created messaging to improve the positioning for the OPC on the South Side and crafted strategies and arguments to counter various opposition groups. This included emphasis on the economic, social, intellectual education and recreational benefits of the OPC.
At the same time, we continued to help streamline communications, operations and organizational issues at the OPC.
Outcome
On May 23, 2018, the Chicago City Council approved the plans for the Obama Presidential Center.