Germantown Avenue finally gets special attention

by Hollie Havens copy editor

Mentor. Protect. Nurture. Teach. Serve.

This is the plea made by the organizers of the Presidents' Summit for America's Future which was held in Philadelphia on Sunday, April 27 through Tuesday, April 29.

It is the kickoff for "America's Promise," an unprecedented multi-tier national effort aimed at providing the 15 million at-risk young people in America with the resources they need to succeed.

The summit and America's Promise are working to gain voluntary, concrete commitments of goods, services or funding from as many individuals, educational and religious organizations, small companies and large corporations as possible.

Retired Joint Chief of Staff Colin L. Powell served as General Chairman of the summit.

The summit kicked-off with Powell's call to volunteerism, a project that asks citizens to help children prepare for the future.

The kick-off of service was held in North Philadelphia along an eight mile stretch of Germantown Avenue. Over 1,700 community and state delegates representing more than 140 rural and urban communities, all 50 states, and five territories gathered with close to 5,000 volunteers at Marcus Foster Stadium to receive job assignments.

Pre-registration was key for the ability to participate. Organizations including the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, Big Brother/Big Sister, Cabrini College and Peace Corps assembled into the stactium and were tagged with colored T-shirts.

The stadium was secured by police officers on horseback and motorcycles, state troopers and secret service specialists positioned on roof tops. Security was tight as organizers were introduced on stage.

President Bill Clinton, First Lady Hillary Clinton and Vice President Al Gore with his wife Tipper were joined by Powell and his wife, former Presidents Jimmy Carter and George Bush and their wives, Sen. Arlen

Spector, Gov. Tom Ridge and Mayor of Philadelphia Ed Rendell. Sporting colored summit T-shirts, the chairmen of the event were ready to motivate the crowd.

"It's good to have an anny again," Powell said to the cheering crowd. "All colors ...coming together in Philadelphia, the birthplace of this country."

Gore resounded Powell's call for an united army.

"Let us put our divisions behind us and pitch in," Gore said. "Volunteerism is good for the soul and good for our country This is not just a volunteer summit, but the beginning of a volunteerism movement."

Carter and Bush were also honoree chairpersons with Gore and Clinton. During his speech, Bush asked the crowd to put aside their differences.

"Today we are not Democrats or Republicans, black or white, Jew or Gentile we are Americans united," Bush said. "My wife Barbara has always said that what happens in your house is more important than what happens in the White House."

But not everyone was wild about the summit.

Protesters formed outside the stadium, holding signs with such slogans as "volunteerism is slavery with a smile" and "I have no duty to sacrifice myself to serve Nazism." But protest did not stop there. Top media personalities criticized the summit, as one reporter called it a "cruel hoax" that is basically a cover-up for the massive cutbacks in vital social programs and lowpaying jobs.

After Bush, Powell spoke again, this time addressing the cynicism from the media and the protesters of the summit. Believing that volunteerism will strive, Powell welcomed Clinton to the podium. Clinton spoke about his reasons for supporting the summit.

"I want the young people to grow up in an America better than the one I grew up in," Clinton said.

After welcoming everyone to Philadelphia again, Rendell commented on Clinton's condition.

"I want to see the President paint Germantown Avenue on two crutches," Rendell chuckled.

And with that, Rendell called everyone to work.

Armed with paint brushes and brooms, participants and politicians stormed to Germantown Avenue to take back the street.

Citizens scraped, swept, painted and read to children on over 60 blocks of the street. They built an instant playground in Nicetown Park, with Gore and Powell adding their sweat and strength to its completion.

The day of service culminated that night when Rendell hosted a ''Taste of Philadelphia" reception at the Convention Center where over 110 of Philadelphia's finest restaurants treated the delegates to dinner.

Later that evening, Oprah Wmfrey hosted a program titled "For The Next Generation- A Celebration of Service."

Celebrities who attended included L.L. Cool J, Dr. Maya Angelou, Tony Bennett, Michael Bolton, Patti LaBelle, Rob Reiner,

Brooke Shields, Andrew Shue, John Travolta and Grover Washington Jr.

The summit continued on Monday, April 28, with the Opening Ceremony at Independence Hall with the aforementioned presidents who were joined by former President Gerald Ford and former First Lady Nancy Reagan.

Various activities and programs continued to be held throughout the three-hoopla gathering.

The summit culminated with a closing ceremony outside Independence Hall on Tuesday, April 29.

Powell's reason for his commitment and dedication to the summit and America's Promise was reflective for many over the three days.

"Young people wonder is there an American dream for me? And my answer is yes, America cares," Powell said.

"Fifteen million children are in need and we will not be satisfied until we touch everyone of these children I ask you, how can we fail with a country as great as ours?" Powell said.