The Story of Meet Minneapolis’ Event at the Obama Presidential Center
By Todd McElwee
This is not a political piece.
My appetite for politics is running out. No candidate or ideology is being endorsed in this column, nobody approved this message and no PAC is paying for this content—though I would take their calls.
Once again, this is not a political piece!
This is about an evening of stories.
Admission to the Obama Presidential Center is booked for months. One could argue it’s the hardest ticket to get in Chicago. Yet, thanks to Meet Minneapolis, my wife, Angela, and I were there on July 14, touring the facility from top to bottom with only a few dozen of the bureau’s guests, members and staffers onsite. I can’t imagine anybody, save for the Obamas themselves, has had better access.
Meet Minneapolis’ “The Power of Place. Minneapolis Shapes the Story” started with a reception on the lower level. Complete access to the museum’s exhibits followed.
They’re highly curated and interactive and too numerous to properly describe in a few paragraphs. The most popular was the full-sized replica of Obama’s Oval Office.
Angela and I both took a seat behind the replica Resolute Desk. Half kidding, I asked her if I should put my feet up for the photo (I didn’t).
The Obama Presidential Center is global in scope documenting well beyond his eight years in the White House. Of course, it highlights his accomplishments and politics, but the facility is also an exploration of America’s’ grand experiment in democracy. I believe it was intended to serve not solely as a historical resource and fundraising tool for the Obama Foundation, but also as a conduit to help attendees connect with its namesake. It’s telling his, and Michelle’s, story.
Architecturally, it’s stunning—particularly at night.
“The Power of Place. Minneapolis Shapes the Story” was a sales event. Meet Minneapolis was selling its city, but it didn’t unleash the hard sell. Talk of meetings space square footage and upcoming hospitality projects was noticeably absent, and no highlight reel showcase video was shown. They didn’t fit the occasion.
This was a story-telling event designed to familiarize new and old clients alike to Minneapolis through individuals with deep, personal connections to the town.
Andrea Mokros, Secretary / Treasurer, Meet Minneapolis Board of Directors, former special assistant to President Barack Obama and former director of strategic planning for Michelle Obama, moderated the session. She said it was a bit surreal to be in the building. Much of what was inside was her story as well.
Diane Moua, Chef/Owner, Diane’s Place, shared her story of bringing the Hmong culture and cuisine on which she was raised to Minneapolis. In 2025, Food & Wine named Diane’s Place its Restaurant of the Year.
Jamie Martin, Director of Conference and Event Services for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, discussed the pleasantness and efficiency of working on events with Meet Minneapolis, relating it to working with family.
Reuben Kitto Stately, Dakhóta from the Santee Sioux Nation and a tribal member of Red Lake Nation, is a recording artist working to preserve his ancestorial language and culture. He performed for the group.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, who fell in love with the city after running a long-distance race, lit up when talking about his town. He touched on everything from the city’s parks to citizens rushing to the aid of those affected by ICE.
Melvin Tennant, CAE, President & CEO, Meet Minneapolis; and Rosalind Dixon, Associate Director of Business Development, Meet Minneapolis, concluded the programing with personalized messages and reflections on their destination.
Meet Minneapolis’ session occurred in the Sky Room. Occupying the top floor, the room features wall-to-wall windows on three sides. We were there at sunset, able to fully enjoy the panoramic views of the Chicago skyline, Lake Michigan and the surrounding environs.
Angela and I celebrated our 13th anniversary on July 14, and we now have a story to tell about it. (Full disclosure, it was actually the day before, but we opted to celebrate while in Chicago.) Before the event, we had lunch at Ema and rode bikes along Lake Michigan, which I plunged into off the sea wall.
From here on out, whenever someone mentions the Obama Presidential Center, we can politely share—not brag—about the access we were afforded and the time we had with Meet Minneapolis.
Angela’s a multilingual teacher at Walkersville High School in Maryland. It’s fun to see the teacher in her come out a place like the Obama Presidential Center, a venue tailor-made for her curiosities. Whenever we visit a museum, she’s drawn to the personalized pieces and stories. In Chicago, it was a torn sneaker worn by an immigrant who’d come to the United States as well as other items of a similar ilk.
Events such as this aren’t every day occurrences. Perhaps I’ll attend another at the Obama Presidential Center, but odds are it won’t be with my wife while we’re celebrating our anniversary on a beautiful Chicago day. It’s likely that was a one-off.
We’ll always remember our 13th anniversary. We’ll always have that story.
Thank you to Melvin and everyone at Meet Minneapolis for the hospitality and for setting Angela and I up at the utterly and perfectly funky and edgy ACME Hotel Chicago, Outset Collection by Hilton. Any hotel with vinyl copies of Weezer, Led Zeppelin and Clash albums hanging in its elevators is okay by me. Cake pops, with a happy anniversary card, from its West Town Bakery were waiting for us in our room. Angela said the French toast variety was the best cake pop she ever had.
Finally, Kathy McCarthy, Sr. Director of Public Relations and Communications, Meet Minneapolis, what a pleasure it’s been working with and meeting you. Thank you.