A. Philip Randolph’s Way – The First Black Labor Tourism District In America

April 15, 2023
Blog
2 min read

It is not often in one’s career as a community builder that one is challenged to create a masterplan for a great community, great buildings, a great hero, and a great legacy—in a great town. That is what we are doing here in Chicago for A. Philip Randolph and the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters. In some circles, this convergence of blood, sweat, and tears would be called a harmonic convergence. This masterplan represents exactly that. What follows is an extraordinary approach to master planning, cultural planning and institution building. A collaborative plan developed by Atlanta Architect Rene Rotan and Dr. Lyn Hughes.

A Cultural Economic Development concept that began in 1995 with founding of the National A. Philip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum. After which, the unused concept was interrupted and lay dormant for ten years. In 2020. Building upon that foundation David A. Peterson Jr. conceived the Cultural economic empowerment project “CEDEP 2020”. Today that plan is ready for implemented by a strategically formed collaboration, guided by the cultural economic development concept, Randolph’s Dream CDC, LC3.

It is the first Cultural Economic Development plan project in the city of Chicago, which is intentionally designed as a neighborhood stabilization tool, for census tract 5002, the northern section of the Pullman District—A low-income community, population 93% African American. The vehicle to accomplish that is the Community Economic Development Empowerment Project (CEDEP 2020). It is a Social Enterprise collaboration a multi-phase innovative comprehensive Plan.

This project is designed to transform the area, in both the physical appearance and functionality of the community, and the lives of community members. Residents will be trained, empowered, and employed, utilizing training which will include wrap around services, through our collaborative partnerships. This will include organized labor, Randolph’s Dream CDC, LC3, and entities like HIRE 360 Chicago offering: Construction apprenticeships • Black Labor history contributions education • Urban Historic Preservation • and Hospitality Job Training. The entire design and focus of this component, was done with intentionality. The idea is to create a vehicle that will enable the community to participate in, and benefit from — the projected revenue derived from the anticipated 300,000 tourists coming into the community.

The most exciting part of this development is the creation of “RANDOLPH’S WAY.” The multi-phase development will be conducted under a bold, innovative Cultural Economic Development project concept. A living, breathing, Cultural, Tourism, Hospitality District that will include:

  • Phase I: The museum expansion, which will serve as the launching pad for this project.
  • Phase II: Pullman Porters Row, where new businesses will be located, impacting the entire region. It will be unlike any Tourism District in the nation.
  • Phase III: Jesse White Research Library.
  • Phase IV: Dr. Hughes BSCP Ladies Auxiliary & Women’s History Museum.
  • Phase V: A. Philip Randolph Culture Factory.

The project will introduce a new chapter for
The Northern Half of The Pullman National Historical Park And
The First Black Labor Tourism District In America
A. PHILIP RANDOLPH’S WAY