Chicago’s 'rooftop pastor' raises $20M to build South Side community center
Project H.O.O.D. to celebrate Woodlawn community center groundbreaking Saturday
Project H.O.O.D. will celebrate its groundbreaking this weekend after pastor Corey Brooks' 11-month journey on a roof in Woodlawn comes to an end. The pastor and community activist began living on top of a roof across from his church after a spike in crime at the building. he has since raised money to buy the building and turn it into a community center.
CHICAGO - Chicago’s "rooftop pastor" is coming down from his perch.
Pastor Corey Brooks has reached his goal of raising $20 million to build a community center on the South Side in Woodlawn.
Pastor Brooks’ 11-month fundraising vigil started in November 2021 when he started raising money by camping out on a makeshift roof across the street from New Beginnings Church at 66th and King Drive.
Founder of Project H.O.O.D., Brooks committed to camping on the top of a building across from his church after he said it had become a center of drugs, prostitution and violence. Project H.O.O.D. is community initiative started by Brooks and his wife to revitalize the neighborhood.
Demolition begins for new community center on Chicago's South Side
Chicago Pastor Corey Brooks has been living and sleeping on top of a rooftop since November 2021, trying to raise $35 million to build a new South Side center, which would include a trade school, classrooms, restaurants, theater, gym and an Olympic-sized pool.
He intended to spend 100 days sleeping in a tent, enduring Chicago’s cold, heat and storms, but he extended his stay to raise more money.
Some comforts were added to the accommodations, including heating and cooling for the camping tents that housed him.
Now, Brooks will be able to sleep in his own bed. Where his ten used to be, there will be a party to celebrate breaking ground on the new building, which will serve all ages.
He says the most frightening times were when he could hear gunfire, and he made sacrifices to stay committed to the cause.
Day 154: Chicago Pastor Corey Brooks still camping out against violence
Pastor Corey Brooks of Project H.O.O.D. has been living atop shipping containers for 154 days. He refuses to come down until he raises enough money to build an opportunity center for Chicago. His efforts have risen awareness about the violence that plagues the city.
"While I was up here on the roof, my daughter had a baby, so I’m missing my grandson. Also, my mom died of cancer while I was up on this roof. But, you know, that’s life. You take the ups and the downs, you keep going, you stay motivated and endure it. Overall we've been blessed, and I’m really thankful."
Friday is the last night he will spend camping on the roof. Will he miss it?
He says, definitely not. He has a construction project ahead of him now.
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Brooks says he still needs to raise another $15 million to complete the building without debt.
He will appeal to generous donors all over the country, through social media and travel.