News Advisory                                          

Contact: Ralston Bowles
616-813-2800
ralston@iserv.net

LIVE INAUGURATION CEREMONIES PLANNED FOR STUDENTS AND SPECIAL CELEBRATION EVENT FOR EVENING REBROADCAST

Grand Rapids, Mich. -- January 20, 2009 — Following the afternoon 2009 Presidential Inauguration event where 1,135 Grand Rapids Public High School students will witness the ceremonies "live" on the big screen at noon, a rebroadcast of the same will be shown at Celebration Cinema North at 7:00 pm, 8:00 pm and 9:00 pm for those unable to watch during the day. There will also be live music throughout the evening until 10.p.m  with guest speakers and musicians from Lansing, Ann Arbor, Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids.

Press Inquiries may be directed to Ralston Bowles (ralston@iserv.net) (616) 813-2800

WHO: Everyone, All of Us, Citizens, Parents, Children

TOPIC: Inauguration Day Celebration and Acknowledging the Day's Historic Significance

PLUS: Musicians and Speakers from around the state

WHEN: Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Program 7:00 pm to 10:00 p.m. General reception (w/cash bar) and music programming throughout the night. (music to include Karisa Wilson,  David Molinari, Rachael Davis, Root Doctor, Organissimo, and others)

WHERE: Celebration Cinema North 2121 Celebration Drive Grand Rapids, MI 49525

ADMISSION:  FREE / Donations accepted by Student Advancement Foundation and Close Up (Washington DC Educational Programs)

The event is FREE and open to all ages and all ideologies. A non partisan acknowledgment of the historic significance of the day as well as a expression of support for each other and our new president as together we face a number of challenges in the coming months.

Donations will be accepted to offset the costs for the earlier live broadcast at the Celebration Cinema of the Presidential Inauguration to over 1,135 Grand Rapids Public high school students, in an effort to raise awareness of the democratic process and opportunities for students to apply for scholarships to visit Washington D.C and observe the process up close.  Donations can be made to the Grand Rapids Close-Up Washington Program and GRPS Student Advancement Foundation.

BACKGROUND:
My name is Ralston Bowles. I am a musician and fellow citizen of the United States and call Grand Rapids, Michigan my home.  I had the privilege to be on tour in Italy during the presidential election of November, 2008.  The day following the announcement of results,  I was playing Milan and the club owners had proudly displayed the American Flag from the top of the stage and filled the room with red, white and blue balloons.  A close facsimile to apple pie awaited me in my dressing room,  and when I came out to perform that night,  an audience of 150+ Italians filled the room with the singing of my national anthem. I was speechless... and moved very deeply.  It filled me with a sense of pride for my country -  that so far from home,  in this land that had known it's share of dissent and loss,  people would reach out to me in this way.  It transcended political parties.  It  reinforced the idea that people around the globe are connected, and that people are paying close attention to the decisions that are made in the USA.  As citizens, we should be too.

I remember the significant  impact a trip to Washington DC had on me as a student. This prompted the idea that providing students the opportunity to experience the 2009 Presidential Inauguration in a collective environment would be as close as some would ever come to being there. This event will also highlight opportunities for GRPS students to apply for special programs and scholarships that will enable them to visit Washington DC and observe the political process up close. It is my hope that students will be moved by the experience and consequently engage in the democratic process for themselves. They are our future.

It is my belief, as citizens, it is our civic duty to work  collectively for a better world for all of us. It is what inspired this event.  Calls were made to Loeks Theaters, Grand Rapids Public Schools, Close Up, Student Advancement Foundation, Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies, Senators, Congressmen, musicians, artists and many individuals. The response sparked the mobilization of a host of people working together to provide this opportunity for over 1,100 GR Public School High Schoolers to watch the Inaugural Ceremonies on the big screen together "live" in the afternoon.  Then, in the evening, any person who was not able to watch  the inauguration  'live',  can witness a rebroadcast at The First Non-Partisan Inauguration Event for Everyone.  A Celebration of Democracy and Civic Responsibility.

Committee for The Presidential Inaugural Event for Everyone:
Jose Reyna, Kristin Salerno, Ralston Bowles, John Helmholdt, Emily Loeks

Special Thanks to GRPS, Dean Transportation, Student Advancement Foundation, Bank of America and The Committee for The Presidential Inaugural Event for Everyone

Ralston Bowles, (616) 813-2800, Kristin Salerno, (616) 340-1086  Jose Reyna, (616) 901-4753 John Helmholdt, (616) 481-2152 Emily Loeks, (616) 447-4253