All Aboard the Inauguration Train
President-elect Barack Obama will be traveling to the inauguration celebrations in Washington, D.C. by train Jan. 17, according to reports, kicking off a weekend of balls, a parade, and the ceremony that makes it all official.
He and his family will begin the first day’s journey with an event in Philadelphia before boarding the train and picking up Vice President-elect Joe Biden and his family in Wilmington, Delaware. They will make a stop in Baltimore, Maryland before heading to the nation’s capital.
HBCUs to Celebrate Inauguration, MLK Day with Ball
For all the alumni, students, faculty and staff of historically black colleges and universities headed out to D.C. come January, the HBCU Inaugural Gala Ball might be one you don’t want to miss. The first of its kind, this event will be held Jan. 19 at Sequoia on the Washington Harbor in Washington. Soul singer Rahsaan Patterson is slated to perform, as well as R&B singer Alyson Williams (whose first single on Def Jam was, ironically, 1987’s “Yes We Can Can.”)
The event will feature an open bar, heavy hors d’oeuvres, and dancing, according its Website. And though the event is targeting the HBCU crowd, you don’t have to be an alum to enjoy the night. Tickets are $300, and the price goes up to $500 after Jan. 1. A portion of the proceeds will go to charities that give scholarships to HBCU students.
To purchase tickets or for more information about the event or volunteering, visit the HBCU Inaugural Gala Ball’s Website, e-mail at hbcugalainfo@gmail.com, or call 202-715-3520.
A Day of Celebration … and Service
With the very high demand for inauguration ceremony tickets, many are trying to find other ways to be front and center for the inauguration ceremony, namely volunteering. But according to reports, the Presidential Inaugural Committee has received so much interest in volunteering for the top events of the weekend that they are now turning people away.
In observing Martin Luther King Day and honoring the inauguration of Barack Obama, why not join the rest of the nation and the president-elect in a day of service Jan. 19? There are many ways to give back to the community, such as joining a volunteer program through Serve D.C. while you’re there, or finding other opportunities by visiting MLKDay.org.
Janell Hazelwood is the copy editor and a reporter for BlackEnterprise.com.