With the goal of getting children more involved in government, a Doswell woman has coordinated a trip for western Hanover County students to the inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama.

Tawaka White, who has been working closely with Robert Barnette, chairman of the Hanover Democratic Committee, has arranged for 45 students and 10 adult chaperones to witness the history-making ceremony in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 20.

The students, mostly black, will see a biracial man assume the nation’s highest office. Obama’s father was black and his mother was white.

An optimistic White, who focused her energies on the Obama campaign for some time, decided before summer’s end that she would be going to the inauguration.

“Actually, I had made preparations for my own family to go back in August, and I just went to the [Hanover Democratic] party because I decided I wanted to take other children as well,” White said.

“I had already made hotel arrangements for my family, but I wanted to take the children from the western side of Hanover County.”

Speaking on behalf of the county Democratic party, Barnette said “It was a privilege for the committee to sponsor the kids.”

He said they had been “very instrumental in helping us in the campaign – knocking on doors, making phone calls and it just seemed like that right thing to do for us to sponsor them to the event, so we’re happy to do it.”

Barnette also said that “Without a sponsor, it really wouldn’t happen.”

To provide an opportunity for more than just what the school system would consider “their best children,” White opted to seek input from 10 local churches on the students that should be afforded the chance to attend.

“I just decided that I didn’t want to go through the school system because the schools always take what they consider their best children. I went to the churches,” she said.

The churches also recommended adults to serve as chaperones on the trip.

“I just wanted them to have the opportunity to be a part of history,” White added.

To help make it reality, she decided to approach the county Democratic party. She said she “asked them if they would pay for it and—with no hesitation, without a doubt—they did and I took it from there.”

White located Joyce Smith, “who was running her own bus trip and I just asked her if I could have a bus.” Smith obliged and White said she “guaranteed that Hanover would fill it and we did.”

While the White family heads to the nation’s capital on Monday, Jan. 19, the group from Hanover will depart at 6 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 20. “But I will be meeting them there,” White said. Realizing the number of people expected to attend the inauguration, she then said “I plan on meeting them there.”

Her goal for the experience is simple: “I’m just hoping for a positive experience for the children. This is a part of history that has been a long time coming and I just wanted the children to be able to participate.”

“I just want the children to know the possibilities are endless for them. If he can do it, so can you. It’s just those types of things. Find a goal and reach for it,” she added.

The Hanover Democratic Committee funded the trip with a donation of $2,000.