In a bold effort to address community needs through a conservative lens, a South Side pastor is building a multimillion-dollar opportunity center just blocks from the site of Barack Obama's presidential legacy.

According to Daily Mail, Reverend Corey Brooks, known for his unconventional methods and conservative values, is constructing a $47 million Leadership and Economic Opportunity Center near the delayed Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, while preparing to walk cross-country to raise funds.

The new center, led by Brooks' nonprofit Project HOOD, is rising on 'O Block,' an area that has gained notoriety as one of the most violent in America. The 84,000-square-foot facility will sit across from New Beginnings Church, where Brooks has preached for over 25 years. Built to promote leadership and empowerment for at-risk youth, the center is positioned just a mile from the $830 million Obama Presidential Center in Jackson Park.

Brooks Proposes Alternative to Government Models

Brooks, who identifies as a conservative Republican, offers a sharply different perspective from other local leaders and activists. Rather than relying on government assistance or large institutional funding, he stresses the importance of self-sufficiency, discipline, and personal responsibility. “We are not victims,” he said, explaining how his philosophy sharply contrasts with that of the Obama Center or Black Lives Matter.

“They're focused on outcomes and equality,” Brooks said. “We're about opportunity and character.” He argues that many programs today focus too heavily on race or identity politics. “We judge people by work ethic,” he said. “Not skin color or background.”

Construction on the Obama Center, originally set to open in 2021, has experienced delays and is now slated for an April 2026 debut. Critics in the area have voiced concerns that it may be contributing to gentrification and displacement in surrounding neighborhoods, a controversy Brooks is taking note of but choosing not to center his work around.

A Walk Across America for Urban Reform

Brooks has taken unorthodox measures before. In 2021, he spent 343 days on the roof of his center's construction site in protest and fundraising, earning him the nickname "Rooftop Pastor." Despite reaching out to the Obama Foundation and Black Lives Matter, he stated he got no response or support. Still, he remains undeterred.

Now, Brooks plans to embark on a year-long, 3,000-mile walk from Times Square beginning September 1. The “Walk Across America” is intended to raise awareness of his mission and secure enough donations to complete the center without debt. He also hopes to use the funds to build a boys’ private school for youth from low-income, single-parent households and create a sustaining endowment.

“This isn’t about being against anything or anyone,” Brooks said, “but about creating tangible pathways for success in the heart of urban America.” He believes his grassroots movement can offer an alternative blueprint for revitalization in underserved cities around the country.

Project HOOD's Roots and Bigger Vision

Project HOOD traces its origins to 2000, when Brooks purchased and renovated a skating rink into a youth center for $5 million. Since then, the organization has expanded significantly. It now employs over 150 staff and includes a charter school focused on students aged 15 to 21 who have been expelled from public systems.

The nonprofit also runs mentoring and violence prevention initiatives, along with wellness programs designed to build long-term resilience. Brooks describes the initiative as a proactive alternative to reactive government measures that can lack personal engagement. “We focus on building character and creating opportunities,” he said.

In the long run, Brooks hopes the current Project HOOD center will serve as a prototype. He plans to launch similar centers in other cities across the U.S. where underprivileged youth face similar challenges and often lack access to stable environments and mentoring.

Rejecting Dependency and Embracing Patriotism

Brooks' ideology is unapologetically patriotic. “I want my grandkids to love America, not hate it,” he said. “They should believe they can do anything in this country.” While some community leaders embrace progressive frameworks such as Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), Brooks believes these approaches often delay projects and shift the focus away from individual potential.

“We don't follow DEI. We don't chase woke trends,” he added. “We're interested in making sure people develop their capabilities and morals.” He also noted that while organizations like Black Lives Matter have received millions, groups like his have had to rely on creativity and community to push forward.

Despite being at odds with certain modern narratives, Brooks insists his work is about addition, not opposition. “We're creating a movement,” he said. His critique of the Obama Center is not just about space or money, he emphasizes, but about method and meaning.

Two Centers, Two Ideologies

The Obama Center, backed by prominent donors like Oprah Winfrey and George Soros, has aimed to create a cultural campus and economic engine for the South Side. But Brooks maintains that his effort will produce more direct results. “I guarantee this center will transform more lives,” he said.

With construction underway blocks apart, the proximity underscores the disparity in approach. While one center leans on cultural symbolism and institutional heritage, the other focuses on mentorship, job training, and practical education aimed at helping youth take tangible control of their circumstances.

Ultimately, Brooks believes there’s room for both—but argues that solutions shouldn't depend solely on prestige or politics. “You don’t have to wait on government,” he said. “They’re not coming to save you.”