Jan. 13, 2008 – A group of Illinois students will embark on a once in a lifetime trip on Sunday to witness a piece of history – the inauguration of the country’s first African American president.
The “Witness to History Bus Tour,” organized by Clarence Davidson at the Chicago-based Center for Community Advocacy, will take approximately 25 students from around Illinois on a free 4-day bus trip to Washington D.C. for the Inauguration on Jan. 20.
Recognizing the historical significance of the upcoming event, Davidson was inspired to organize the trip as a way for students to be a part of history and engage in numerous learning experiences along the way.
“The historical event provides both an educational experience for these kids and hope to inspire them to go beyond the limited opportunities available to them,” said Sarah Pawlowski, who has assisted in planning the trip.
The group will watch the swearing-in ceremony and the Presidential Inaugural Parade from the designated public areas along the National Mall on Jan. 20. Later that night, they’ll celebrate with their own Inaugural Ball complete with formal attire.
“That’s what makes this trip unique, no other kids they know will be able to say they witnessed the inauguration of the first black president,” said Davidson.
While in Washington D.C., the students will also participate in a number of activities hosted by the Douglas Memorial United Methodist Church . Dialogue sessions and discussion groups have been scheduled to talk about a variety of topics, including their expectations for Barack Obama’s presidency and what they think needs to be done to better the future of America.
“The main goal is to introduce a multitude of learning experiences through discussions of events that will take place,” said Pawlowski.
The students will have an opportunity to listen to a panel of African American senior citizens willing to share their experiences growing up during segregation. The dialogue sessions, discussion groups and panel have been opened up to students in the Washington D.C. area to add another perspective to the group.
“I think there will be tremendous bonding between the students and it will give them a global picture of what their options are,” said Davidson.
A film crew and a photographer will accompany the students to help document the trip. Students are expected to keep a journal and write essays on several subjects that will later be compiled in a book, along with the pictures, to preserve their experiences.
“It’ll be enlightening, and it may very well be life changing for a lot of these kids,” said Davidson.
The Center for Community Advocacy is still seeking funds to help cover the cost of the trip and donations can be made through their website. Additional information about the trip will be added to the site as it becomes available.
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