To say the are lucky would really be an insult to the hard work and dedication of those students who will be at the University Presidential Inaugural Conference (UPIC) running from Jan. 17th to 21st. For those of us on the outside looking in. Ya, they are still lucky.

Colin Powell is one of the DC movers and shakers delegates will meet
Photo source
According to site:

The Conference is comprised of exclusive and private inaugural events and activities featuring world-renowned keynote speakers and political experts, as well as public ceremonial events, such as the official swearing-in ceremony and the inaugural parade, as the President and Vice President and their families proceed down Pennsylvania Avenue from the United States Capitol Building to the White House.

Inaugural Scholars will meet and interact with White House veterans, press secretaries, political powerhouses, Washington, D.C. insiders, presidential historians, policy makers, documentary film makers and other prominent and sought-after personalities and political experts who will directly participate in the Conference.

Only alumni of the National Youth Leadership Forum (NYLF), the Congressional Youth Leadership Council (CYLC) and the International Scholar Laureate Program (ISLP) and members of select honors societies who are enrolled in a post-secondary program at the time of the conference can attend.

Here are three Caribbean participants:

Darren Jordan, 19, a Guyanese student at the University of Toronto has former student of the School of Nations and an alumni of the Global Young Leaders Conference (GYLC) which he attended in 2007.

Sade Clarke of Barbados and also age 19 A student at York University in Canada. She too attended the GYLCe representing Harrison’s college of Barbados

John-Henry Noel Marley of Jamaica and residing in Tampa was selected byhis participation at the CYLCl and NYLF to take part

20 year-old Deeza Mae Smith of St Lucia. A second year student at George Washington University.

Barack Obama: He da Man!

EVENT:Swearing In Ceremony
www.pic2009.org
ORGANIZERS: PIC

DATE: Jan. 20^th 2009

TIME: 11:30 AM ET

PLACE: West Front of Capitol Building

PERFORMERS: United States Marine Band, San Francisco Boys Chorous, San Francisco Girls Chorous, Anita Baker, John williams with Itzhak Perlman (violin), Yo-Yo Ma (cello) Gabriella Montero (piano) and Anthony McGill (clarinet)

EXTRA: airing on a TV near you!!!

After ceremony Obama escorts George Bush to the departure ceremony. Yeah!!!
There will be an Inaugural Luncheon hosted by the Joint Congressional committee on Inaugural Ceremonies . The Inaugural Parade starts at 2:30 PM

EVENT: Inaugural Youth Ball: “Be The Change”

www.mtv.com

ORGANIZERS: PIC, MTV

DATE: Jan. 20^th 2009

TIME: 10 PM ET/ 7PM PT

PLACE: Hilton Washington

PERFORMERS: Kanye West, Kid Rock, Fall Out Boy

EXTRA: Event airs live on MTV at 10 PM Eastern and 7PM Pacific

EVENT: First Inaugural Neighborhood Ball

www.pic2009.org

ORGANIZER: PIC

DATE: Jan. 20th 2009

TIME: 7pm

PLACE: Walter E Washington Convention Center Hall D

PERFORMERS: Beyonce (Obamas' will take first dance as she sings "At Last" by Etta James), Mary J Blige, Mariah Carey, Maroon 5, Faith Hill, Jay-Z, Alicia Keys, Shakira, Stevie Wonder, Sting, DJ Set by Nick Cannon. Presenters include Denzel Washington, Jessica Alba, Leonardo DiCaprio, Ray Romano, Jamie Foxx, Queen Latifah and Kate Walsh

EXTRA: Airing on ABC Tuesday Jan. 21^st at 8PM

EVENT: BET’s Inaugural Celebrations: Yes We Will

www.bet.com

ORGANIZERS: BET

DATE: Jan. 20^th 2009

TIME: 8PM

PLACE: Mandarin Oriental Hotel

PERFORMERS: Mary J Blige, Nick Cannon, Terrance Howard, Queen Latifah, Ne-Yo, Anita Baker, Jazmin Sullivan, Joss Stone

EVENT: Virgin Islands Institute of Development Inaugural Ball

www.viid.org

ORGANIZER:Virgin Islands Institute of Development

DATE: Jan. 20th

PLACE: Hall of the Americas of the Organization of American States

TIME: 7 PM ET

PERFORMERS: Special remarks from Senator Hilary Clinton, Secretary-of –State Designee, Patrick Gaspard (Haiti) Director-Designate of the White House Political Officee, Eric Holder (Barbados) Attorney Genera-Designate of the United States and Dr. Susan Rice (Jamaica) Ambassador-Designate to the United Nations

EVENT: RIAA Inaugural Ball

www.riaa.com

ORGANIZERS: Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) Feeding America

DATE: Jan. 20th

TIME:

PLACE: Ibiza Nightclub

PERFORMERS: Rihanna

EXTRA: part of proceeds go to Feeding America charity

Wyclef will perform at the Green Ball
Photo source

EVENT: Kids Inaugural Ball: We Are The Future

www.pic2009.org

ORGANIZER: PIC

DATE: Jan. 19^th 2009

TIME:7PM

PLACE: Verizon Center

PERFORMERS: Jonas Brothers, Miley Cyrus, Bow Wow, Rihanna, Billy Ray Cyrus, Keke Palmer, Usher, Shaquille O’Neal

EXTRA: Hosted by Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden

The concert will be broadcast from 8:00 - 9:30 p.m. ET/PT on The Disney Channel, be simulcast on Radio Disney and streamed on Disney.com immediately following the telecast.

EVENT: A Celebration Of Change

www.cafeyouth.org

ORGANIZER: The Cultural Academy For Excellence

DATE: Jan 19^th 2009

TIME: 7p.m

PLACE: Harman Center for the Arits

PERFORMERS: Positive Vibrations Youth Steel Orchestra

EVENT: 2009 Green Inaugural Ball

www.greenball2009.org

ORGANIZER: Smithsonian American Art Museum and National Portrait Gallery

DATE: Jan. 19^th 2009

TIME: 7 PM

PLACE: Donald W Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture

PERFORMERS: Wyclef Jean, Maroon 5, will.i.am, Melissa Etheridge, John Legend and Michael Franti

EXTRA:

· 100% of the carbon footprint of the event is being offset with high quality carbon offsets from Native Energy. The offsets will support a portfolio of renewable energy technologies.

· The event's menu developed by Grand Cuisine and Chef Bradley Nairne, in consultation with renowned organic Chef Nora Pouillon, will include locally-sourced, organic and seasonal food.

· Waste from the event will be recycled, reused and composted by the Waste Neutral Group. No plastic bottles will be available

· Waste items will be source separated into biodegradable trash bags supplied by Perf Go Green.

· Lighting will incorporate the latest LED technology

· Limited paper and signage was used to produce and publicize the event.

· All printed materials will be printed on recycled paper using soy based ink.

· All bathrooms will use biodegradable soap and energy efficient air dryers.

· All linens are cleaned without the use of chemicals, and in a manner that uses less water and drying time.

· Floral decorations are organic, being kept to a minimum, and arrangements will be donated and reused.

· Attendees were encouraged to use metro, walk, or drive a hybrid to the event to minimize emissions from transportation.

· Trucks will not be permitted to idle while in the loading bays.

· The Green Carpet greeting guests, provided by Bentley Prince Street, is made with 100 percent renewable electrical energy and is made of 10% consumer waste. The carpet will be completely recycled after the event.

· Even the coat check will feature reusable numbers instead of paper tags.

EVENT: We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial

www.pic2009.org

ORGANIZER: President Inaugural Committee (PIC)

DATE: Jan 18^th 2009

TIME: 2 PM ET

PLACE: Lincoln Memorial

PERFORMERS Beyonce, Mary J. Blige, Bono, Garth Brooks, Sheryl Crow, Renee Fleming, Josh Groban, Herbie Hancock, Heather Headley, John Legend, Jennifer Nettles, John Mellencamp, Usher, Shakira, Bruce Springsteen, James Taylor, will.i.am, and Stevie Wonder. Queen Latifah, Jamie Foxx, Denzel Washington and Martin Luther King III will do readings.

EXTRA: HBO will air for free at 7PM ET

EVENT: Latino Inaugural Gala: Celebra El Cambio

latinoinauguralgala2009.org

ORGANIZER: Various Latin political and non-profit organizations

DATE: Jan 18th 2009

TIME: 7:30PM ET

PLACE: Union Station

PERFORMERS Marc Anthony, Paulina Rubio, War, Alejandro Sanz, Cucu Diamantes & Yerba Buena, Michael Salgado, Elida Reyna, and Mariachi Los Camperos De Nati Cano. The show also features appearances by Jennifer Lopez, Rosario Dawson, George Lopez, Rosie Perez, Wilmer Valderrama and others.

EVENT: Soca Rama

ORGANIZER: Crown Bakery, Noel Enterprises, Entertainment Circle Promotions

DATE: Jan 18^th 2009

TIME: 9 PM ET

PLACE:Chevrolet Building Washington DC

PERFORMERS: Alison Hinds, David Rudder, Baron, Jamesy P, Kerwin Dubois, Jeremy SookDar, Dolla. All backed by Sunshine Band

EXTRA: Host MC Wassy

EVENT: Obama Mania

DATE: Jan 18th

TIME:

PLACE: Café Asia Restaurant

EXTRA: Hosted by Sprang Int'l alongside AndyMix, Dj Hazzard and Blue Print Sound. Special guest dj Foreign Base outta NY will also be there!