Alma Powell is an educator, author, audiologist, chairwoman of a foundation dedicated to improving high school graduation rates and maybe something of a rock star.
Wife of former Secretary of State Colin Powell, she just sold out all 736 tickets to the Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy’s annual fundraiser, the Odyssey Awards Luncheon, scheduled Tuesday at the Chattanooga Convention Center.
The keynote speaker has had a front-row seat to see some of the most historic and controversial events from America’s past 25 years. Her father was principal of a black Birmingham, Ala., high school during the turbulent civil-rights era, and she’s married to former Secretary of State Gen. Colin Powell.
As chairwoman of the board of directors for America’s Promise Alliance, Powell works with education leaders across the country to improve high school graduation rates and connect lower-income students with whatever resources they need to get a thorough education.
Last year, both Powell and her husband expressed concern that, while nationwide 81 percent of high school students graduate, only 71 percent of black pupils get their diplomas. Only 73 percent of low-income American students of all races and ethnicities graduate high school, and that number plunges to 65 percent in Georgia, Alaska, Wyoming and New Mexico. The figures are based on 2013 data, the last for which complete graduation statistics are available.
“Mrs. Powell was a perfect fit as keynote speaker because the goals of America’s Promise match so well with ours,” says Liz Willis, development assistant for the Young Women’s Leadership Academy Foundation, which supports CGLA. “Mrs. Powell also shares our commitment to Full STEAM Ahead, an initiative that recognizes innovative educational opportunities in science, technology, engineering, the arts and math.”
CGLA, an all-girls school, has been named a Tennessee Reward School for two consecutive years, placing in the Top 5 percent of schools for academic progress in the state.
Though tickets to the luncheon have sold out, organizers they welcome donations to continue the school’s progress. Find out more at cglaonline.com.
Contact Lynda Edwards at ledwards@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6391.