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.