GENERAL COLIN POWELL SPEAKS AT NEH COUNCIL MEETING JULY 16
General Colin Powell addressed the National Endowment for the
Humanities on Friday, July 16, in Washington. He discussed ways
the national nonprofit organization he chairs, America's Promise—
The Alliance for Youth, and the NEH can work together.
The partnership will involve a mutual commitment to developing
educational programs that address the needs of disadvantaged youth.
"The longer I get into America's Promise, the more I work with
nonprofit organizations, the more I work with government agencies,
the more I realize we have to get into the lives of these
youngsters as early as possible," Powell said. "It is more than
throwing computers at them."
"The National Endowment for the Humanities has tremendous
experience in developing interesting educational programs in
schools, libraries, the Internet and other community forums," NEH
Chairman William R. Ferris said. "Schools for a New Millennium,
the EDSITEment educational web site, the Girls Dig It archaeology
program, family literacy projects, and other NEH programs share
many of the same goals as America's Promise."
As a symbol of the NEH-America's Promise partnership, General
Powell presented Chairman Ferris with a little red wagon,
representing the tradition of constructive and fun youth
activities.
America's Promise, organized in 1997, is dedicated to mobilizing
organizations throughout America to help build character and
competence in America's youth. Under General Powell's leadership,
America's Promise has focused on the needs of the nation's
disadvantaged youth by seeking to provide ongoing relationships
with caring adults, safe places with structured activities after
school, healthy diets, marketable skills, and community service
opportunities.