Renew America Together continues Powell’s lifelong passion for philanthropy as the initiative calls on all Americans to make ongoing commitments to serve their communities. Powell says the symbolism will be strong for the launching of Renew America Together as the initiative takes place on Jan. 19, the holiday to commemorate Martin Luther King Jr., a man who devoted his adult life in service of others. The president-elect, the Vice President-elect Joe Biden and both their families will spend MLK Day, which is the eve of the inauguration, participating in activities in the Washington, D.C. area.
Powell, a former four-star general in the Army and the first black to be selected as the chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, broke party ranks and protocol in the weeks leading up the presidential election, going on national TV to throw his support behind Obama because of his values and his ability to lead a fractured world. However, Powell made it clear that he is not looking for a much-speculated position within the Obama Administration.
“I am not looking for a job,” Powell said inside the Mayflower Hotel, a few blocks from Obama’s new residence at the White House. “I think I can help this effort along from the outside by being a spokesman and a champion for service to others. I am very happy in private life, thank you very much, and I am trying to be as helpful as I can to the president-elect and vice president-elect.
“We all should be as helpful as we can to the new team coming in,” he continued. “They are coming in for America, and I look forward to assisting in any way I can. But I have not been offered a job and kind of made it clear that I am not looking for a position.”-terry shropshire
General Colin Powell General Colin Powell; Roxanna Garcia Marcus (Year Up community
organization); Linda Douglass (Barack Obama presidential inaugural committee)
