Malcolm X College and City Colleges of Chicago have officially named a new community center at the college’s West Campus in honor of longtime U.S. Congressman Danny K. Davis, recognizing his decades of support for students, education and communities on Chicago’s West Side.
The naming ceremony took place Friday, August 28, at Malcolm X College West Campus, bringing together college leaders, elected officials, community leaders, students and West Side residents. The new Danny K. Davis Community Center is part of a major expansion of the campus, formerly known as the West Side Learning Center.
The $17.5 million investment expands the campus with additional space for education, training, recreation, meetings and community activities. The project includes approximately 3,000 square feet of new space and is designed to serve students as well as residents of the surrounding Austin and Garfield Park communities.
The community center includes multipurpose recreational and meeting areas that can be used by students and community members. The space is also available for public rental for meetings, business functions and special events, extending the facility’s role beyond the college campus.
Davis has represented Illinois’ 7th Congressional District since 1997. According to City Colleges of Chicago, his work has helped secure millions of dollars for Malcolm X College and its West Campus, supporting construction and renovations as well as childcare, technology laboratories and other educational opportunities for students.
The congressman said the naming was a significant honor and connected the recognition to his longstanding belief in education as a pathway to opportunity.
City Colleges of Chicago Chancellor Juan Salgado said Davis has been a longtime advocate for students and West Side communities, citing his efforts to secure resources for educational facilities and student services. Malcolm X College President David A. Sanders also highlighted Davis’ role in supporting investments that have expanded opportunities for students.
The new center builds on an expansion project that broke ground in November 2024. At the time, City Colleges and the Public Building Commission of Chicago announced plans for a multipurpose community center designed to provide recreational, meeting and instructional space.
The facility is expected to provide additional opportunities for students and residents to gather, learn and participate in community activities. City Colleges has also said the expanded campus has the potential to increase student capacity significantly, with the West Campus expected to serve about 2,000 students annually.
The naming places Davis’ name on a facility specifically designed to connect education with the broader West Side community, while expanding the resources available to students and residents.