On a quiet stretch of land near 35th and Evans Streets in North Omaha sits one of the most historically significant sites in America.
It is the birthplace of Malcolm X.
For decades, many people drove past the site without realizing its importance. While Malcolm X would grow to become one of the most influential voices for Black empowerment, human rights, and self-determination, the place where his story began remained largely unknown outside of Omaha.
Today, that is changing in a powerful way.
The Malcolm X Memorial Foundation is entering a new era with a major redevelopment of its 20-acre historic campus. Backed by a $20 million investment, the Foundation is working to transform the site into a dynamic cultural, educational, and civic destination that honors Malcolm X's legacy while strengthening the North Omaha community.
The multi-phase project will include a flagship Mixed-Use Cultural Center, enhanced public spaces, infrastructure improvements, educational programming, and long-term plans that support cultural pride, economic opportunity, and community empowerment.
A Legacy Preserved by Community
The preservation of the Malcolm X Birthsite began with the vision and determination of Omaha activist Rowena Moore.
After discovering that her family owned the property where Malcolm Little's childhood home once stood, Moore launched a decades-long effort to preserve the site and educate the public about Malcolm X's Omaha roots. Her work helped protect the land and ensure that future generations would know that one of the most important leaders in world history was born in North Omaha.
What started as a grassroots preservation effort has grown into a nationally recognized institution dedicated to honoring Malcolm X's teachings and advancing education, human rights, and social change.
Today, the Malcolm X Memorial Foundation continues that work by connecting the lessons of the past with opportunities for the future.
More Than a Museum
The work happening at the birthsite goes far beyond preserving history.
Foundation leaders are reimagining the campus as a place where culture, education, public space, entrepreneurship, community healing, and civic engagement come together. Early site preparations, including ground surveying and tree clearing, have already begun, setting the stage for this historic transformation.
The first phase of the project will prioritize the creation of a Mixed-Use Cultural Center. The Foundation has selected Gensler, a global architecture, design, and planning firm, to lead the Master Site Plan for the future Malcolm X Cultural Center.
The plan will guide the redevelopment of the 20-acre campus and help shape new facilities, public gathering spaces, infrastructure improvements, and a cohesive site strategy rooted in regenerative ecology, inclusive design, and cultural preservation.
According to JoAnna LeFlore-Ejike, Executive Director of the Malcolm X Memorial Foundation, the selection of Gensler is more than a design choice. It is a commitment to a process that honors the legacy of Earl and Louise Little and their son, Malcolm X.
A Community-Led Vision
The Foundation has made it clear that this project must be shaped with the community, not simply built for the community.
Gensler's approach emphasizes co-authorship with community stakeholders, socio-spatial justice, and design that elevates underrepresented histories. The project team also includes local and national partners such as Practice of Democracy and Alley Poyner Macchietto Architecture.
The formal project launch began in early September, starting with a discovery phase. Community listening sessions were held on October 7 and 8 to gather direct input from local residents. The design team is also completing interviews with community partners and assessing the existing conditions of the site.
This community-led process is important because the Malcolm X Birthsite is not just a development project. It is a sacred cultural space, a historical landmark, and a symbol of North Omaha's continuing role in the struggle for justice, dignity, and self-determination.
Investing in North Omaha's Future
One of the most powerful aspects of the Foundation's vision is its commitment to community impact.
Leaders see the project as an opportunity to create jobs, attract investment, support local businesses, expand educational programming, and inspire future generations. The birthsite has the potential to become both a cultural landmark and an economic catalyst for North Omaha.
The final Master Plan will help guide future fundraising efforts, programming, and development partnerships. It will also help ensure that the campus grows in a way that reflects Malcolm X's legacy and the needs of the surrounding community.
As Jonathan Spellman, Owner's Representative and Lead with MX Development Group, stated, this is not just a development project. It is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to design for cultural equity, civic healing, and global impact.
A Global Destination with Local Roots
For visitors, the future Malcolm X Cultural Center will offer an opportunity to learn about the life, family, ideas, and global influence of Malcolm X.
For North Omaha residents, it represents something even larger.
It is a chance to tell the world that one of history's most influential leaders was born here — and that the community connected to his story continues to invest in education, culture, justice, and empowerment.
The project reflects a belief that North Omaha's history is not merely something to be remembered. It is something to be built upon.
How the Community Can Help
As the Malcolm X Memorial Foundation continues this transformational work, community support remains essential.
Financial contributions help fund educational programming, preservation efforts, community events, leadership development, site improvements, and the future Malcolm X Cultural Center. Donations of any size help move the vision forward and ensure that future generations can learn from this important piece of history.
But support is about more than money.
The Foundation also welcomes the gift of time, talent, and expertise. Whether you are an educator, historian, artist, architect, landscaper, construction professional, marketer, photographer, grant writer, technology specialist, entrepreneur, volunteer, or simply someone who cares about preserving Black history, your skills can help advance the mission.
Volunteers play a vital role in supporting educational programs, community events, visitor engagement, fundraising efforts, site maintenance, and special projects that strengthen the Foundation's impact throughout North Omaha.
Building a destination worthy of Malcolm X's legacy will require more than financial investment. It will require the collective talents, creativity, and commitment of people who believe in the power of history, education, human rights, and community empowerment.
To learn more, make a donation, volunteer, attend an event, or explore the Foundation's programs, visit: malcolmxfoundation.org
History Is Still Being Made
The Malcolm X Birthsite is more than a place where history happened.
It is a place where history is still being made.
As North Omaha continues to celebrate and strengthen its cultural treasures, the Malcolm X Memorial Foundation stands as a powerful reminder that preserving the past and building the future are deeply connected.
The Foundation's work honors Malcolm X's legacy not only by remembering his life, but by advancing the values he championed: education, justice, self-determination, cultural pride, and community power.
That work is happening today in North Omaha.
And everyone is invited to be part of it.
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