The non-partisan inauguration party included group art projects and performances from participating schools. An African drum team got everyone dancing in their seats and in the aisles and a girl group of rhythmic dancers got the students stomping. Meanwhile the inauguration in Washington D.C played live on three huge digital screens.
The students broke into a tidal wave of cheering and clapping when Obama was sworn in, and, along with President Obama and First lady Michelle waved good-bye to former president George W. Bush and former first lady Laura Bush as they flew off in the Executive One helicopter.
Democracy Prep, a public charter school in Harlem with a civic education focus, initially tried to bring its 330 students to Washington DC on Inauguration Day. It proved to be impossible. When school staff broke the bad news to their students, eighth grader Brian Vanderhorst said, “Well, if we can’t go to the inauguration, let’s bring the inauguration to Harlem and have a huge party!” Sixth grader Amina Niass added “I want to be with my mom when she cries tears of joy when the President is sworn in.”
Forty students in grades six through eight then formed an “Inauguration Committee” and worked with staff to design Inauguration of a DREAM.
The Inauguration Committee traveled to Washington on January 16th to film a video they unveiled at the event, and also planned their first-ever school dance on January 19th—Martin Luther King Day—to mirror the Inaugural Balls taking place in Washington this week.
Inauguration of a DREAM is a manifestation of the school’s mission to empower students to break the cycle of civic disengagement.
Seth Andrew, Founder and Head of School of Democracy Prep, said “We’re preparing our students for college and a life of active citizenship. This exciting event allowed them to come together and have their voice heard.”
