KID REPORT
April 25, 2003
A Promise For America's Kids
TFK's Kid Reporter interviews Alma Powell, wife of the Secretary of State, about her new books for kids
 Martin poses with Alma Powell. |
Alma Powell, wife of Secretary of State Colin Powell, has an important message for the kids of America. Co-chair of a charity called America’s Promise, Powell has written her message in a couple of new books just for kids. The books were written to help raise money for America’s Promise, a charity dedicated to helping America’s kids.
TFK Kid Reporter Martin Jacobs spoke with Powell about her two books, My Little Wagon and America’s Promise, and life with the Secretary of State.
 |  Martin interviews Alma Powell at New York City Hall. |
Powell: We wanted children to know all about America Promise and what adults pledge to provide for every child.
TFK: What is your message to kids in these books?
Powell: The message in these books is that we’re going to take very good care of you no matter what, and to give you all the things that you need to grow up and to learn how to be leaders of your nation.
TFK: How do you hope children will respond to these books?
Powell: I hope that they’ll find that they’re fun, and that they learn a little something from the things that the kids in this book do like clean up an empty lot and give back to their community.
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Powell: The red wagon is a symbol of childhood. For many many years American Flyer has made little red wagons and most children have had one. You have a little red wagon when you’re very small to put your toys in and pull them around.
As you grow older, more things can go into your wagon, things that are important to you and sometimes things that are bothering you, spiritually and emotionally. When you’re having a hard time, put your troubles in the red wagon. It has a long handle on it so that when the burden gets too heavy an adult can lean down and help you pull the load.
TFK: Do you and the Secretary of State work together on America's Promise? Did you found it together?
Powell: We didn’t found America’s Promise. America’s Promise came out of a big summit that all the living U.S. Presidents called to talk about what’s needed to help young people in America. My husband was asked to be the chairman of America’s Promise. Right now he’s a little busy with other things, and so I have taken his place to keep the promise alive.
TFK: What is it like to be married to Secretary of State Colin Powell?
Powell: It’s never dull, I’ll tell you that! There’s always something exciting… whatever is in the news is very close to us in our home and in our family and often governs what you're able to do and what you’re not able to do. We’ve been married for 41 years, so it’s been a good time.
TFK: Do you take part in any decisions that Mr. Powell makes? Do you discuss politics at home?
Powell: No, no, not at all. We just do normal things at home, like cleaning the garage and washing windows, just ordinary household chores. We don’t ever talk about politics.
TFK: What was it like being part of a military family for so many years? Did Mr. Powell's service to America inspire your kids to follow in his footsteps?
Powell: Our son followed in his footsteps. Very briefly he was in the military, but he was the only one. He was in a very severe accident in Germany when he was a young lieutenant and that kind of ended his military career. But life in the military was very exciting. I’m not sure that my children would always think so because you have to move a lot. My daughter moved when she was in her junior year in high school and her senior year in high school, so that’s a little bit much. I think it made them all better people. My younger daughter, in 12 years of school, went to 11 different schools. That’s a lot. But it all worked out well in the end.
TFK: What is your one most important wish for kids in America and all over the world?
Powell: I have one basic wish for children in America and all over the world: That they may be able to live in peace and grow up with respect and dignity and work together to make a better world.
