Young People To Play Key Role At Inauguration
CHICAGO (CBS) – In less than a week, Chicago will get its first new mayor in more than two decades.
As CBS 2 Chief Correspondent Jay Levine reports, some fresh faces will help usher in the new era with Mayor-elect Rahm Emanuel.
Among them is Clarissa Bevilacqua, a 9-year-old who will play violin at the inauguration. She's eager to play in front of so many people.
"That's what's so exciting about it," she says.
The inauguration's official logo comes from another talented young woman, Aurora Grajada. She refined a sketch of the Chicago skyline into a screen print, which caught the eye of the Mayor-elect.
Chanel Sosa has another view of the city.
She'll read her poem, inspired by Carl Sandburg's "Chicago," to a crowd of thousands.
"I'm a little nervous when I have to perform in front of anybody, even if it's just my mother in the living room," she says.
The celebration will feature concerts and the oath of office in Millennium Park, volunteer events throughout the city, but no inaugural ball.
"Why do we need a ball? Let's celebrate Chicago, let's celebrate the neighborhoods of Chicago, the children of Chicago," inauguration co-chair Desiree Rogers says. "Why do we need another big black tie (event) at this time?"
The 71 percent approval rating Emanuel enjoys follows a campaign in which education was a major focus.
Now comes the inauguration, where in a radical departure from past events, young people -- whom he considers the future of Chicago -- will play an integral role.
