It is six o clock on Tuesday morning, January 20th 2009 with each gust of sub zero wind my spine quivers, the harmony of street vendors selling their flags, t-shirts and buttons echoes in my ears and my numb feet march through the middle of the closed streets of Washington, D.C. alongside two million strangers with whom, in this moment, I have everything in common. We all want change and we've come to see it. We sprawl from the Capital Building to the Washington Monument and beyond, unable to adjust our mittens without nudging the person beside us, and wait for the historic ceremony to begin.

TPR members from around the country (including
President Kayci and Panelists Nico and Kendall,
seen here with family and friends), had a great time celebrating the inauguration.

I have never felt anything comparable to the energy that flooded our nation's capital these past few days. The dissimilar crowds included Americans and foreigners of every shape and size, every color and every language, young and old, all united in their unbridled excitement. While the city was clearly overflowing with die-hard Obama fanatics, many others had put their politics aside to stand in awe of how very far our nation has come. Together we braved the bitter cold, mingled on street corners and sang and chanted in masses.

When the procession of our country's leaders began our tear-filled eyes were fixated on the JumboTron screens erected intermittently across the span of the National Mall. As the Swearing-in Ceremony commenced, we hung on every hopeful word our newly inaugurated President so passionately spoke. With him we challenged the cynics, who doubt America's capacity to tolerate change.

"Their memories are short. For they have forgotten what this country has already done; what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage."

Not only did we witness history; we were, proudly and gratefully, a part of it.

Kayci Baldwin
President
Teen Project RACE