In North Lawndale, ‘hope for a better community’

UIC and its North Lawndale partners celebrated at Sumner Math and Science Academy, a Chicago public elementary school, after their proposal for the Obama Presidential Library and Museum was submitted to the Obama Foundation Dec. 11.

Speakers at the event included community leaders, UIC officials and Isiah Thomas, former basketball great who is now a Chicago businessman.

Thomas talked about growing up in North Lawndale, in a family where money was tight but respect for education was great.

“I look out at the audience and I see the kids, and I see the elders in the community,” he said. “I really do see myself sitting right where you’re sitting.”

The real stars of the event, though, were Sumner students Zyon and Zyire Nichols.

“We would like to see the presidential library in the field across from our school, where we see trash every day,” they said. “This would bring hope for a better community and uplift the next generation.”