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Alma Powell, An American Lady
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A Woman of Courage, Intellect, Strength,
Beauty and Perseverance
(Photo: America's Promise Alliance)
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For the last decade, Alma Powell, wife of Gen. Colin Powell, has worked with America's Promise Alliance to ensure that all of our nation's children have access to the fundamental resources they need to succeed. She has served as chair of the board since 2004, and has grown the organization to include the hundreds of partners working toward common goals.
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Building a Solid Foundation for the
Nation's Next Generation
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The Visionaries
America's Promise Alliance
Alma Powell, current Chair and Colin Powell, Founding Chairman
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FIVE PROMISES
Caring Adults
Safe Places
A Healthy Start
Effective Education
Opportunities to Help Others
Visit Site
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Alma and Colin Powell
(Photo: Alex Wong)
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A Partnership of Togetherness
Founding Chairman General Colin Powell kisses his wife and current Chair of American's Promise Alliance, Alma Powell, on stage as she is introduced during an event at the US Chamber of Commerce in Washington, DC. where President Barack Obama spoke on the administration's effort to improve the nation's schools.
"Our marriage is based on mutual trust and respect. We always support one another in any undertaking. Put simply, Being There!" Alma Powell
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Gen. Colin Powell (Ret.) and wife Alma Powell
(Photo: kingsacademy.com)
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Gen. Colin L. Powell, a 35-year veteran of the US Army, is the former Secretary of State, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and former National Security Advisor.
General Powell is the Honorary Chair of the Colin L. Powell School for Civic & Global Leadership at his alma mater, the City College of New York. The School was inaugurated May of 2013 and stands alongside CCNY's other premiere named schools. He is also the Founder and Chairman Emeritus of the America's Promise Alliance.
Gen. Powell has received numerous US military awards and decorations. His civilian awards include two Presidential Medals of Freedom, the President's Citizens Medal, the Congressional Gold Medal and the Secretary of Energy Distinguished Service Medal. In addition, he has numerous foreign awards including an honorary knighthood bestowed by H.M. Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain and a French Legion of Honor award.
Source: Colin L. Powell Facebook
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Alma Powell, the Quiet Strength Behind Colin Powell
By Denise Oliver Velez
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Alma and Gen. Colin Powell (Ret.) in London at special ceremony where Colin Powell was awarded an honorary knighthood bestowed by H.M. Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain
(Photo: con-values.blogspot)
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 Powell's Wife Vetoed Presidential Bid By BBC News, World Edition
'The wife of US Secretary of State Colin Powell stopped him standing for president in 1996 by threatening to leave him, according to a new book. Mr Powell - then a popular retired general - was almost assured of being the Republican party's presidential candidate should he have wanted the nomination.
"If you run, I'm gone," she is alleged to have said.
The son of Jamaican immigrants, Mr Powell served in Vietnam and rose through the ranks of the army to become the highest-ranking black soldier in US history. As chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in 1991, he was credited with helping achieve the swift victory over Iraq in the Gulf War.
Mr Powell retired from the military in 1993.
But in November 1995, he announced he would not run in the following year's election - saying he had little stomach for political life and his family mattered more to him.'
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Speaking on Behalf of America's Children
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President Barack Obama hosts an education roundtable in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building with business leaders and America's Promise Alliance Chair Alma Powell, center, and Founding Chair General Colin Powell, left, to discuss what the business community can do to ensure we have a skilled, educated and competitive US workforce.
(Photo: Pete Souza)
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 Former Presidents Bill Clinton and George Bush joined Colin Powell and his wife Alma Powell at a 10th anniversary event for the America's Promise Alliance in New York. |
 Mrs. Laura Bush is joined by former Secretary of State Colin Powell and his wife, Alma Powell, as they present Mrs. Bush with a National Promise of America Founders Award during a social dinner to celebrate the tenth anniversary of America's Promise Alliance.
(Photo: Joyce N. Boghosian)
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Challenging America's Teen Dropout Rate
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One In Three Kids Drop Out of School,
What We Can Do
By Colin and Alma Powell
USA Weekend
America's Dropout Crisis
By The Daily Beast
With unemployment approaching double digits, a Daily Beast survey reveals the number of Americans who never finish high school. Check out the worst cities-and Alma Powell on fixing the system.
Gen. Colin Powell and Alma Powell on Morning Joe's Education Nation
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Nurturing Today's Children
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"Our children come here as empty vessels. It is all our responsibility to fill them with the best education possible"
Alma Powell
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Making Promises and Keeping Them
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Janet Langhart Cohen
Washington Life Magazine
Q. America's Promise Alliance (APA) believes that children need five things to succeed and works to give all children access to them. What are the five promises it makes to youth?
A. We promise to give a child a caring adult, a safe place, a healthy start, a marketable skill through an effective education and an opportunity to give back to society.
Q. What is your role in keeping those promises?
A. Our special role is to spark and support a movement of people to help America's youth. We don't deliver direct service programs [as] our organization consists of over 400 partners who work together to help provide these five basic promises. Our Grad Nation initiative helps communities give the support our young people need to succeed.
Q. Who are the partners and other supporters?
A. State Farm is our biggest supporter of the Grad Nation Campaign. Walmart is a contributor as is AT&T, and Target supports our efforts to have children reading on grade level by the third grade.
Q. At a luncheon recently held in your honor, you asked each guest to bring a book to contribute to the Reach Out and Read program. Tell us about that program.
A. Our association with Reach Out and Read is to support one of our partners, The American Academy of Pediatrics. They prepare America's youngest children to succeed in school by partnering with doctors to prescribe books and encourage families to read together.
Q. Can you give some local examples of the work you're doing with APA?
A. One of my greatest feelings was walking into the new Educare Center right here in our nation's capital, in a D.C. Promise Neighborhood in Ward 7. We support the D.C. Promise Neighborhood Initiative, which was founded by Irasema Salcido; it has grown into a community effort that delivers the 5 promises.
Q. Your family is renowned for public service. Your husband served his country as a soldier and statesman. You serve in the arts and culture as vice chairman of the Kennedy Center and as chairman of America's Promise Alliance. Did you and your husband instill service in your children?
A. Colin and I have been very blessed. We just celebrated 50 years of marriage and raised three children. We found it to be sheer joy nurturing a new generation of offspring who also serve. Our son Michael sits on the board of America's Promise. Our daughter Linda sits on the board of The Colin Powell School for Policy, a school Colin is developing at City College of New York which will serve a large immigrant population, and she's a CASA volunteer working to protect the interests of children in foster care. Our younger daughter, Annemarie, sits on the board of the West Side Montessori School helping to provide early education and scholarships to underprivileged children.
Q. What is your philosophy on public service and helping others?
A. I believe to whom much is given, much is required. Service is a noble obligation. We all have a part to play in building this village, this country, by meeting the challenges of helping the young people of our great nation.
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Alma Powell, Author of Children's Books
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America's Promise
In this playful picture book, Alma Powell introduces young readers to the basic principles of America's Promise.
Honey and her younger brother, Benji, are new to the neighborhood. As Honey and Benji explore their town, they meet new friends, and encounter a special lady called Mrs. Mayberry. At Mrs. Mayberry's Play and Learn House, they enjoy books, music, games, and snacks. And when a surprise visit from Mayor Crawley presents the gang with an unusual task, determination and hard work help them conquer an exceptional challenge and reap the rewards of community spirit.
(Below is a sample page of My Little Wagon) |
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My Little Wagon
This adorable companion book to America's Promise shows the many extraordinary uses of a young child's wagon -- perfect for pushing and pulling, holding and carrying -- and the empowering idea of "pulling your weight."
The little red wagon is the symbol for America's Promise, an organization that challenges us to make our children a national priority.
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Advocate for Early Childhood Development
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 Reach Out and Read Reach Out and Read is a national program that promotes early literacy by incorporating reading aloud, advice for parents, and books into well-child visits. The goal of Reach Out and Read is not to teach children how to read, but to establish the early foundations for literacy.
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 DC Promise Neighborhood Initiative DCPNI is committed to working with the residents of Kenilworth-Parkside, Washington, DC to support and advocate for our children -- ensuring that both children and parents have access to the resources they need to grow, learn and succeed. We view our role as the lead architect of the Five Promises for Two Generations -- working to identify the needs of the community and build evidence-based solutions through collaboration with a wide array of partners, service providers, funders and supporters. Our data-driven programming serves as a basis for identifying and scaling up solutions that work for our community.Visit Site |
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 Educare Learning Network The Educare Learning Network is a partnership between the Ounce of Prevention Fund, the Buffett Early Childhood Fund, other national philanthropies and public-private partners engaged in more than a dozen states across America. Located just three miles from the nation's Capitol, Educare of Washington, DC, has one of the highest profiles in the Network and an unprecedented opportunity to influence education policy across the country. To learn more about the Educare Learning Network, please visit educareschools.org.
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"Write the vision; make it plain on tablets,
so he may run who reads it."
Habakkuk 2:2
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Colin and Alma's
Wedding Day
(Photo: loveupclose.tumblr)
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The Powell Family
(Photo: achievement.org)
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Professional and Social Photo Album
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The Powells attend the Obamas' First State Dinner
(Photo: Washington Post)
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Alma Powell with
then-Mayor Cory Booker
at the New Jersey Dropout Prevention Leadership Symposium at Rutgers University
(Photo: nj.com)
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Alma Powell with high school student Joylin Hayes and AT&T's
(Photo: politic365.com)
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The Powells attend the 2009 BET Inaugural Ball at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel
(Photo: pwcs.schoolfusion.us)
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(Photo: Casefoundation.org)
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(Photo: pwcs.schoolfusion.us)
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The Powells pose backstage with the President's Award at the 42nd NAACP Image Awards
(Photo: pwcs.schoolfusion.us)
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The Powells contribute to a public service video in support of THEARC in Southeast Washington, DC
(Photo: americanthinker.com)
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The Powells
attend the Sons of Italy Foundation's (SIF) 25th Anniversary National Education & Leadership Awards Gala where Colin Powell was honored
(Photo: archive.constantcontact.com)
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The Powells with
Mayor Bloomberg
(Photo: vosizneias.com)
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Alma Powell pictured with Nancy Graham, editor of AARP The Magazine, was honored for her work advocating for children at the 2009 Inspire Awards hosted by AARP Magazine at the National Museum of Women. The Inspire Awards pay tribute to ten people who inspire others to action through their innovative thinking, passion, and perseverance.
(Photo: Brendan Hoffman)
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Alma Powell, chair of the board of directors of America's Promise, presented an award to Mayor William D. Euille designating Alexandria as one of America's Promise's 100 Best Communities for Young People.
(Photo: myemail.constantcontact.com)
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Alma Powell speaks at the National Press Club
(Photo: c-spanvideo.org)
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Alma Powell speaks for the International Reading Association (IRA) in celebration of International Literacy Day. The exclusive event took place at The Whittemore House in Washington, DC.
(Photo: reading.org)
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Alma Powell at a Luncheon in her Honor with DC Promise Neighborhood Initiative founder Irasema Salcido, and Executive Director Aryis Scales
(Photo: Kyle Samperton)
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The Powells attend the Kennedy Center Honors
(Photo: emirates247.com)
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Colin and Alma Powell in Ventana Productions studios promoting American Graduation Day 2013. The seven-hour special aired on PBS originating from WNET in New York, with remotes from Washington, DC and around the country.
(Photo: Ventana Productions)
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Alma Powell with
Morgan Freeman
(Photo: loveupclose.tumblr)
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America's Promise Alliance Partners
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America's Promise Alliance partners are national organizations and include nonprofits,
education institutions, corporations, associations, faith-based groups and more. We welcome
all national organizations that share a belief that children and youth are a national priority and have a commitment to collaborating to help more young people receive all
Five Promises.
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More Partners...
The 9/12 Generation Project
AARP Experience Corps
Achieve, Inc.
ACT, Inc.
Ad Council
AdLit.org
AdvancePath Academics, Inc
Afterschool Alliance
After-School All-Stars
Al Duncan Enterprises, LLC
Alleyoop
Alliance for Excellent Education
AMACHI
America Achieves
America Scores
American Academy of Pediatrics
American Association of Caregiving Youth
American Association of School Administrators
American Bar Association Division for Public Education
American Camp Association
American Counseling Association
American Federation of Teachers
American Institutes for Research
American Library Association
American Public Health Association
The American School
American School Counselor Association
American School Health Association
American Youth Policy Forum
Annie E. Casey Foundation
Apex Learning
ASCD Whole Child Initiative
Aspen Institute
ASPIRA Association, Inc.
Association for Career and Technical Education
Association for Middle Level Education
Association of Children's Museums
AT&T Foundation
Attendance Works
AVANCE
AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination)
Axela Government Relations, LLC
Bank of America Charitable Foundation
Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy
BELL (Building Educated Leaders for Life)
Big Brothers Big Sisters of America
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Biz in a Boxx
Black Educational Events
The Boeing Company
Bonstingl Leaders for the Future
BOOST Collaborative
Boys & Girls Clubs of America
Boys Town
Breakthrough Collaborative
Brookings Institution Center on Children and Families
BUILD
Business Roundtable
By Kids for Kids Co
Camp Fire
Camp To Belong
The Campaign for Grade-Level Reading
Capital One
Cascade Educational Consultants
Casey Family Programs
Catholic Charities USA
Center for Education Reform
Center for Student Opportunity
Center for Supportive Schools
Character Education Partnership
Child Mind Institute
Child Trends
Child Welfare League of America
Children's Aid Society
The Children's Project
CHOICES Education Group
CIRCLE
Citizen Schools
City Year
Civic Enterprises
Civic Ventures/Encore.org
Civil Air Patrol
Coalition for Community Schools
Cohen Strategy Group, LLC
Collaborative for Academic, Social, & Emotional Learning (CASEL)
College Board
College Options Foundation
College Summit
College Track
Colorin Colorado
Committee for Economic Development
Communities In Schools
Community for Education Foundation
The Community Foundation for Financial Literacy
Community Health Councils
Community HealthCorps
Community Matters
Concentric Educational Solutions
The Conference Board
Core Knowledge Foundation
Corporate Voices for Working Families
Corporation for National and Community Service
Corporation for Public Broadcasting
The Corps Network
Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO)
Credo
Cristo Rey Network
Critical Exposure
CVS CAREMARK
David & Lucile Packard Foundation
DeVry, Inc.
Diploma Plus
Dropout & Truancy Prevention Network, LLC
Earth Force
EarthEcho International
Easter Seals
EdisonLearning
Education Commission of the States
Education Northwest
EdVenture Partners
EverFi, Inc.
Everyone Graduates Center
Everyone Matters
Faith Leaders for Community Change
Families In Schools
Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA)
FamilyWize Community Service Partnership, Inc.
Feed the Children
Fidelity Corporation
Fight Crime: Invest in Kids
The Finance Project
Financial Education of America LLC
Firefighter's ABC's
First Book
First Focus
The First Tee
FoodCorps
For Pits' Sake, Inc.
Ford Foundation
Ford Motor Company Fund
Forum for Youth Investment
Foster Care Alumni of America
Foster Care to Success
Foundation for Excellence in Education
Franklin Covey
Friends of the Children
Gateway to College National Network
Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network (GLSEN)
generationOn
Genesys Works
Get Schooled
Girl Scouts of the USA
Girls Inc.
GlaxoSmithKline
Graduation Alliance
Grant Station
Hasbro
Health People
Healthy Heroes Alliance
Healthy Kids Challenge
Healthy Teen Network
The Heart of America Foundation
The HeArt Project
Hispanic Heritage Foundation
The HistoryMakers
Hobsons
Home Builders Institute
HOSA - Future Health Professionals
HUMAN Healthy Vending, LLC
iMentor
The Infinity Movement, Inc.
ING Foundation
Inspire USA Foundation
Inspiring You Ministries, Inc.
Institute for Educational Leadership
Institute for Higher Education Policy
Intel Computer Clubhouse Network
Intel Corporation
International Minority Affairs Cooperative
Internship Institute
Investing In Communities
The Jack Kemp Foundation
View Additional Partners
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