‘The city needs some hope’: Pastor Corey Brooks breaks ground for new Woodlawn community center

CHICAGO (WLS) — The Woodlawn neighborhood celebrated after listening to Pastor Corey Brooks lastly raised sufficient cash to start out development of his a lot anticipated group heart.

The Chicago religion chief ended his months-long rooftop marketing campaign. He began tenting out on a makeshift roof in November of final yr to boost cash to interchange an outdated motel that when occupied so much throughout the road from his New Beginnings Church with a group heart.

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To this point, Brooks has raised round $20 million, sufficient to start out development.

“We simply determined it is a good time, that town wants some hope, that it wants some inspiration,” Brooks mentioned.

Saturday’s ceremonial groundbreaking got here as at the least 29 youngsters and teenagers within the metropolis have been taking pictures victims, and 7 of them killed, simply this month. Married and a father of an 11-year-old son, South Facet native Michael Holmes hopes the middle will make a distinction.

“It will put plenty of positivity and plenty of constructive conditions to make use of,” he mentioned.

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The trouble to construct the management and financial alternative heart at 66th Road and King Drive is 10 years within the making for Brooks’ Undertaking HOOD, which stands for “serving to others get hold of future.”

“Because it will get constructed, the years after that, we’ll see it and its going to learn us and assist us,” mentioned Jahlil Porter with Undertaking HOOD.

Organizers mentioned the 85,000 square-foot facility will take at the least 18 months to construct and won’t solely revitalize the neighborhood, however present assist companies and assets to the group.

“I am very hopeful and I am wanting ahead to being part of it,” mentioned Alanda Redmond, a Woodlawn resident.

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The neighborhood nonetheless celebrated, though the entire price of the middle is $35 million, which is hundreds of thousands greater than what’s been already raised.

Brooks mentioned he plans on persevering with to fundraise by utilizing social media to attraction to beneficiant donors in every single place.