In honor of Dr. King and the inauguration of President Elect Barack Obama, like many across the nation, Washingtonians are dedicating today to a day of service. Across the City, there are people working in shelters, cleaning up neighborhoods and schools, doing renovation projects where needed, and filling care packages for our military who are overseas. The President-elect is doing service in Southeast Washington.

I am lucky to be here in Washington with a ticket for the Inaugural. I am here among many friends from Washington and from all over the country. We have known each other since high school in Washington, from law school in Florida, from the Flemming Fellows Leadership Program, from politics or from Denver. (And for those of you who think I might be ungrateful for her help, my mother declined her invitation to attend!)

The community of the Washington Cathedral is doing its day for Martha’s Table. Martha’s Table’s mission is to help at-risk children, youth, families and individuals improve their lives by providing educational programs, food, clothing, and enrichment opportunities. It is unique because Martha’s Table operates by going out into the City. The Cathedral community will prepare and deliver food to homeless persons throughout Washington. Tonight, on Inauguration Eve and in the spirit of service and community, there is a benefit for three of Washington’s charity organizations that have supported sustainable farmers and the underserved for over 20 years. A dozen meals with a dozen chefs will be served in beautiful homes by chefs such as Alice Waters and Rick Bayless.

On Sunday, we joined more than 400,000 people, together with the Obamas and the Bidens, on the Mall to enjoy an amazing concert. You may have watched the concert – people on the Mall smiled at each other, sang together, and just felt good together! Walking over to the Mall, we were told we couldn’t cross at 17th and Pennsylvania. We realized that someone big was going to be coming by! Then out of Blair House came a motorcade with a few Suburbans and numerous other vehicles. It was the Bidens and the performers. The crowd clapped and cheered, and people in the motorcade waved. But we still couldn’t cross! From the other direction came 10 DC police on motorcycles with sidecars, sirens blaring, then black Suburbans and then a brand new Cadillac limousine with the Obamas – Michelle waved and we saw the white cuff of the President-Elect (we have the picture to prove it!). The clapping and cheering was louder and clearly enjoyed by the Obamas!

At Sunday service in St Joseph’s Chapel in the Washington Cathedral, the congregation discussion included visitors from all over the United States, and some international visitors. The service included prayers for healing our country, and it ended with all in the Chapel in a circle singing “We Shall Overcome.” I asked my native African cab driver if he was having a great week, and he replied that he would never have to lie to his children again. I asked what he meant and he said his children really could achieve anything.

It is a new day in Washington – it is simply amazing here. The energy of the visitors and Washingtonians is visibly vibrant! Gone is the cynicism and “Welcome Change” signs are everywhere and in every business. Our hotel welcomes guests with a pen in a box inscribed for the inauguration and a card “with hopes for our new President, our country and our relationships all over the world, we wish you a great visit.” The grocery store has a huge sign that welcomes “Change we can believe in.” The clerks in the stores, the Guardsmen and Guardswomen on Pennsylvania Ave. (we met two yesterday from Ft. Collins and Lakewood), the tourists, the politicians and Washingtonians are so bonded with a shared hope – it is indescribable. It is a collective, a unity, which I have never experienced.

Tomorrow at noon, the President Elect takes his oath of office – our country is bursting with hope.

Anne

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