Two hours before businesses, churches and civic organizations assembled to provide school supplies to Caroline County youths on Saturday morning, more than 400 families lined the hallways of Caroline High School seeking to get a jump start on the upcoming school year.
It was exactly the type of collaboration envisioned by Alma Powell, the wife of former U.S. Secretary of State Gen. Colin Powell, when they launched the America’s Promise initiative in 1997.
Caroline’s Promise, which held the supply drive, was established under the umbrella of the Powells’ organization in 2001. Alma Powell visited Caroline for both the program’s launch and its 10-year anniversary, in 2011.
She left a lasting impression on former Caroline’s Promise Executive Director Linda Thomas, who shared her memories of Alma Powell on Monday, one day after the civic leader and former chair of the America’s Promise Alliance died at the age of 86.
“Alma was invited back for that 10-year celebration, and she honored us by accepting the invite,” Thomas said. “She was so pleasantly surprised that we had kept her dream alive in the way she had envisioned it. So, it was my pleasure to receive her, to meet her and to have that hazel-eyed beauty look at me and say, ‘You look like you belong at my family reunion.’”
Thomas said after some early ups and downs, Alma Powell’s visit at the 10-year mark “became the inspiration that spurred us forward.”
Thomas said Caroline’s Promise leaders were growing weary, but Alma Powell reminded them that they were part of her family — and that she was grateful they were pressing on to continue the program.
Thomas said Alma Powell spoke of her family’s commitment to America’s Promise and that she was impressed by the way Caroline’s Promise uplifted and supported children in the community.
“It made us aspire to be greater,” Thomas said of the 2011 visit. “When you look at Caroline’s Promise from that moment to this moment almost 14 years later, it really just changed the trajectory of how we volunteer to serve the youth in Caroline with the intentional and unapologetic focus on those youth who are underserved and under-considered in county life. They have been elevated and now they have been inspired to participate as volunteers.”
Caroline’s Promise served more than 1,600 students at its annual school supply drive Saturday at Caroline High School. (Photo courtesy of Caroline’s Promise)
The torch was passed to current Executive Director Shermeka Baker-Latney in 2018, and the organization’s reach expanded under her leadership, Thomas said.
In addition to the annual supply drive, Caroline’s Promise provides weekly food for children living in motels, conducts the Keeping Kids Warm coat drive, distributes boxes of food for a summer feeding program and hosts an annual Young Entrepreneur’s Expo for youthful business owners.
The organization also conducts a coding program for boys and girls, a Mr. And Ms. Caroline’s Promise pageant, pops up at random bus stops to encourage students throughout the year, allows for students to earn community service hours and awards nearly $10,000 in scholarships.
“The reason you don’t see it replicated anyplace else is largely because folks are often looking for positions and not a real access point to support those who really need assistance,” Thomas said. “Caroline’s Promise is very serious about its mission, and we happen to have the exact executive director necessary for this moment.”
Baker-Latney said each of the organization’s endeavors are designed to ensure Colin and Alma Powell’s vision is implemented. America’s Promise pledged to provide five resources to youth: caring adults, safe places, a healthy start, effective education and opportunities to serve others.
Baker-Latney noted that 60 businesses, churches and organizations combined to provide more than 1,600 students with every resource they need to start the school year on Saturday in what was the largest event under her leadership. She said it’s encouraging for youth to see adults in the community showing they care.
It reminds her of the little red wagon that became the symbol of America’s Promise when it began.
“As adults, we should be the ones pulling that wagon along,” Baker-Latney said. “We’re not doing our job if kids are in the wagon, stuck and not doing great things.”
