The Neighborhood that met Obama First – 2012

Altgeld Gardens is a sprawling public housing development, as far south as you can go and still be in Chicago. It’s surrounded by landfills, a sewage treatment plant and the polluted Little Calumet River. It’s home to nearly 4,000 people, and the place where Barack Obama honed his chops as a community organizer. Four years ago today, we drove to Altgeld Gardens to talk with people at dawn–right after the election. Everyone wanted to talk; there was exuberance, and hope. We’ve gone back each year since, and this year, we wanted to hear how people from Altgeld think the president has done, and how the country, and their community, have changed.

Audio Slideshows

One of the first people we met back in 2008 was 29-year-old Artease Coley. He was in his car, cruising down 131st St, windows down, music blasting. It’s the song “My President” by Lil’ Jeezy.