Jackson Park in Chicago in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Creating Common Ground
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, October 17, 2026
1. Creating Common Ground Marker
Start Small
"Even small social interactions-the kind you have while buying a cup of coffee or out walking a dog-have been shown to boost mental health and create stronger ties inside a community."
First Lady Michelle Obama
Create Space
"Read books by people whose perspective is different from yours, listen to voices you haven't heard before, look for narratives that are new to you. In them and with them, you might end up finding more room for yourself."
First Lady Michelle Obama
Stick Together
"Words alone do not build trust... What does build trust, because it builds relationships, is people banding together to get stuff done."
President Barack Obama
Erected 2026 by Barack Obama Presidential Center.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Women. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #44 Barack Obama
this page online
Location. 41° 47.012′ N, 87° 35.079′ W. Marker is in Chicago, Illinois, in Cook County. It is in Jackson Park. It is on South Stony Island Drive near East 61st Street. The marker is on the grounds of the Barack Obama Presidential Center. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 6001 South Cornell Drive, Chicago IL 60637, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is on Chicago’s South Side. It is also in the American Midwest. Globally, it is in North America, on the Great Lakes, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, and the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Let's Keep Moving (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); You Are America (about 700 feet away); Martin Puryear, b. 1941 (about 800 feet away); Jackson Park Improvements (about 800 feet away); John Dewey (about 800 feet away);
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, October 17, 2026
2. Creating Common Ground Marker at the Obama Center
Credits. This page was last revised on October 21, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 21, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 4 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 21, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.
