Rahm Emanuel Prepares for Monday Inauguration

Rahm Emanuel Prepares for Monday Inauguration

According to the Chicago Sun Times, mayor-elect Rahm Emanuel helped kick off pre-inauguration events Saturday, which included a three-hour free concert for families featuring the band Chicago and other local music artists in Grant Park. While the weather was less than cooperative and was marked by heavy rain and heavy gray skies, Emanuel attended the first part of the concert with his wife and children to see Chicago perform.

Earlier in the day, Emanuel helped in several citywide service projects and emphasized the importance of engaging Chicagoans and getting residents to come together and help to improve their city in numerous different ways. According to an ABC Local news article, Emanuel began the day on the West and South sides by helping residents pull weeds from community gardens


Other major community and volunteer projects. According to WGN News, Chicago River Day took place Saturday as thousands of volunteers took to the Chicago River to help clean up trash and other litter in and around the river. The event takes place every year and is organized by Friends of the Chicago River, an organization established in 1979 dedicated to improving the health of the Chicago River for both residents and the environment.

Chicago River Day 2011 was part of "Chicago Together," a city wide service day led by Emanuel dedicated to improving the city. Thousands of volunteers walked the banks of the Chicago River and paddled out in kayaks and canoes to pick up floating litter and trash clinging to the shores.

Emanuel concluded Saturday night by attending an invite-only cocktail party and reception where he celebrated his success along with friends and supporters, according to the Chicago Tribune. The private reception took place at Venue One event hall on the Near West Side and those attending had given $5,000 to $50,000 in donations for the entirely privately-funded inauguration events during the weekend and on Monday.

The mayor-elect, who was elected on Feb. 22, is set to take over the position formerly held by Mayor Richard M. Daley, who served for 22 years making him the longest serving mayor of Chicago. Emanuel is set to be inaugurated on Monday with events starting at 10:30 a.m. at the Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park. Following the swearing-in, the new mayor will be shaking hands with residents at his new office on the fifth floor of City Hall in downtown Chicago.

Rachel Krech provides an in-depth look at current environmental issues and local Chicago news stories. As a college student from the Chicago suburbs pursuing two science degrees, she applies her knowledge and passion to both topics to garner further public awareness.