Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley Memorial Garden

The Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley Memorial Garden is a contemplative civic landscape conceived as a space of remembrance, education, and collective healing. Located adjacent to Roberts Temple Church, the project honors the legacy of Emmett Till and the moral courage of Mamie Till-Mobley while grounding their story within a broader continuum of Black cultural memory, resistance, and care.
The garden is imagined as a home-like spatial journey—from front yard to backyard—drawing inspiration from domestic environments shaped by Black life in Chicago. This sequence unfolds through five interconnected spaces: the Porch of Curiosity, Shelter of Memory Treasures, Living Room of Culture, Dining Room of Collective Dreams, and Backyard of Joy. Together, these spaces translate everyday rituals of gathering, reflection, dialogue, and play into a shared public landscape.
Design strategies emphasize accessibility, inclusivity, and reverence. Quiet paths, shaded seating, water elements for birds, and seasonally expressive planting create a sacred atmosphere that respects the historic church while welcoming visitors of all ages and abilities. Material choices and landscape forms are historically sensitive and ecologically grounded, integrating stormwater management, biodiversity support, and long-term stewardship.
More than a monument, the garden functions as a living landscape—one that invites learning, dialogue, and participation over time. It transforms personal grief into collective presence, positioning memory not as static commemoration, but as an active force shaping justice, dignity, and future generations.