The major purpose of this thesis is to present a proposal for a Kurdish Tourism Center complex designed on the present site of two of Chicago’s most famous parks. These parks are the Washington Park and the Jackson Park located near the center of this famous city. Moreover, this thesis attempts to offer some new ideas about Kurdish architecture which blend ideas of bio morphism and critical regionalism into the overall design of Center Complex. Thus, much of this thesis offers a discussion of issues related to trying to define Kurdish identity in the 21st century and seeks to include these ideas into the architectural designs of the projects. For example, Kurdish people, by and large, love and treasure the many famous Kurdish poets who have written throughout the centuries until the present day. Overall, Kurdish people love the outdoors and nature. They love flowing water falls and often escape to the mountains with their families to enjoy picnics and have celebrations. Moreover, Kurdish people love music and they love to dance. These are just some of the things that have been translated from ideas into architectural designs for this project. In addition, the Kurds are one of the largest populations of “ethnic” people’s in the world that do not have their own recognized country or nation. Consequently, much of Kurdish identity is about this struggle for freedom and autonomy and the desire to have a country they can call their own. These themes are explored in both the architectural designs for this project and in the accompanying “programing” that might be presented and housed at a Kurdish Tourism/Cultural Center Complex in Chicago, Illinois.

In Montgomery, Alabama, interstate highways were designed and developed to decimate African-American social institutions and communities whose members were prominent participants in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s. The sequence of events contributed to the social, political, and economic marginalization of the residents of Washington Park, which includes members of Grace Missionary Baptist Church. Individual, familial, and communal progress has been hindered by the oppressive actions of power wielders, including federal, state, and local government officials. The longstanding distress has caused negative shifts to occur in the value systems of many families; and assistance from external sources has not led to widespread reductions in the community’s marginalization. The circumstances create an ideal opportunity for parents to emerge as internal facilitators in the restoration of families and other social institutions relevant to the sustainability of Washington Park. This publication is a detailed plan for the design and development of the Parenting Institute as a grassroots family strengthening organization, which will place emphasis on the enlightenment, education, and empowerment of parents as the most influential leaders of the community. Enhancements in parenting practices will assist in the strengthening of people as the most important components of social, political, and economic institutions. This will lead to a reduction in the marginalization of the target beneficiaries.

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