Guest blogger Katie Campos, DFER Development Director, recaps her experience in Washington, DC during Inauguration week.
O-BAM-A! O-BAM-A! O-BAM-A!
I was fortunate enough to attend some of the Inauguration ceremonies and celebrations in Washington, D.C. last week. The mood in D.C. was one of energy, excitement, animation, and selflessness. Everyone had to wait on lines, and everyone had to smush into subways, but I never encountered a single impatient or rude person. Everyone was looking out for everybody else; we were truly a unified people.
I won a ticket to the swearing in ceremony through my Congresswoman, Nydia Valezquez. I was thrilled to win the ticket, and it was the reason I was in DC, but unfortunately, like many others, I was unable to make it into my standing section spot behind the reflecting pool to watch the live ceremony. I watched the swearing in among the millions of people crowded into McDonald’s and laundromats.
Because of sheer luck and an amazing connection, I attended the Neighborhood Ball-the first ball to admit real people from the neighborhood-on Tuesday evening. I arrived at the Washington Convention Center with my two friends and we waltzed into a ballroom filled with giant screens, multiple stages, and the famous Nick Cannon (Mariah Carey’s hubby) as our DJ. The crowd was tiny compared to the 2 million people I had seen at the Capital earlier that day.
With little effort, we planted ourselves directly behind the stage barrier-about 5 feet from the main stage. Musical artists, such as Will.i.am, Mariah Carey, Maroon 5, and Jay-Z rocked the house in preparation of the arrival of our new Commander-in-Chief and First Lady. The crowd was ecstatic, and many more celebrities, such as Faith Hill and Denzel Washington, lined the stage. Finally, the Obamas arrived on stage, taking their first dance as President and First Lady about 5 feet from where I was standing. The crowd was euphoric and ecstatic. We cheered and celebrated not just for the change that Obama represents, but for all of our hard work in ensuring his election and in fighting for change. It was a moment in history that I will forever remember and be moved by.