America's Promise was founded in 1997, after the Presidents' Summit for America's Future, "to ensure that every young person -- no matter their class, race or culture -- has access to the tools that create opportunities for success," according to its Web site, www.americaspromise.org.

The nonprofit organization seeks to collaborate with communities to fulfill "Five Promises" to youth, which include that children have access to caring adults and safe places, and that they are ensured a healthy start in life and effective education for their future. The fifth promise suggests that youth should be provided opportunities to give back to the community.

Former Secretary of State Colin Powell was founder and initial chairman of America's Promise. In an interview with Y-Press in 2000, he said that the problems facing youth could be attributed to the lack of a sense of community. The group's emphasis on youth volunteering would help to remedy that, he said.

In 2005, America's Promise has more than 400 national partners that have made large-scale commitments. There are hundreds more at state and community levels. The program estimates its efforts have reached many of the nation's 73 million young people.

It also appears that many of those youth are giving back. In its most recent teen survey, the Gallup Organization for the Independent Sector reported in 1996 that 59 percent of teens ages 12 through 17 volunteered in the previous year. More recently, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported in 2004 that 29.4 percent of teens 16 and older volunteer.

Last month, Y-Press members spoke again with Powell about the organization, which his wife, Alma, now chairs.

Y-Press: In your message to youth on americaspromise.org, you state that "reclaiming the next generation of Americans requires national response." However, few of us have ever even heard of this organization. Why do you think this is?

Colin Powell: Well, I don't know that I can answer that. It's a fairly well-known organization. It's been successful over the last eight years in reaching out to communities across America. It's helped the Boys & Girls Clubs triple their size. It's assisted the Big Brothers and Big Sisters in doubling the size of their mentoring program, and (they're) getting ready to quadruple in size.

It's not a kind of organization that a young person might trip over. Most of our advertising and most of our work is directed toward political leaders and community leaders and not necessarily directed toward young people.

YP: One of the promises of America's Promise is to provide children with safe places for structured activity to learn and grow during non-school hours. Many schools in Indianapolis have had to cut extracurricular activities such as music programs because of lack of funding. Also, nonprofit organizations are having trouble supporting all their programs. What do you feel organizations will do to address these problems?

Powell: Nonprofit organizations are always challenged to generate sufficient interest within the community and within the businesses in your community to get the money they need to run. We are a very generous nation; we give more money to charitable organizations than any nation in the world.

Even though the organizations in Indianapolis might be challenged, we have been doing rather well across the country. For example, Boys & Girls Clubs of America had 1,500 clubs in 1997, and now, eight years later, they have 3,500 clubs. I sense as I go around the country that people are willing to contribute when they think the cause is proper, when they think their dollars can make a difference.

But you hit another important point, and that is in our school systems, which are pressed for money. They always have to provide for additional security or put up new buildings, and it's unfortunate that they often go to those programs that aren't hard science, or hard math or English, (such as) athletic programs and music programs and cultural programs and art class, and cut back on those. I think that's unfortunate because that's an important part of your education. It was an important part of my education, and I hope that you write about this so that your parents and other adult leaders in your community will start to examine whether this is such a good place to reduce funding.

YP: Part of the fifth promise is giving children and adolescents opportunities to serve others. Why is teenage participation in community service important?

Powell: Many adults think that young people don't give back enough to society. We agreed with that when we created America's Promise and we said, "Look at the first four promises: 'Give something to young people, either a safe place or mentor or a healthy start in life or marketable skills.' Let's reverse it with the fifth promise and have youngsters promise to give something back to their community."

And we see it done in so many different ways, whether it's a 4-H club or youth cleanup days or young people serving in hospices or nursing homes or doing things that benefit their school or their community in some way. And what I've found is that these programs are very successful, and young people feel a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment when they have actually reached out and helped somebody in need. It's an aspect of character (building) that we feel is important for young people to develop, and as they get older the spirit of giving to others will stay with them. And when they are adults, they will still feel an obligation to give to others.

YP: What do you think is the best type of community service for youth?

Powell: There's no best type of community service. I think each community has different needs, and youngsters in each community may have different desires. But there are lots of opportunities for service.

I think young people (should) stretch themselves. They (should) mentor kids in, say, a poor part of the community, kids whom they might not see in their church or their school, or do community service at a hospice or hospital where people are suffering. Don't just take something that is easy -- you know, working in your own nice community or working just in your church or synagogue or temple, but reach out and really help somebody in need, even though it may be a little more difficult for you to do so. The reward will be greater.

YP: Do you feel that military service is a good thing for young people to become involved in? Do you see that as a type of volunteerism?

Powell: Absolutely. As you know, I volunteered for the military and I stayed for 35 years. And so I think service to our nation in uniform is a great way to serve your nation. Increasingly, that service benefits people in other parts of the world, not just protecting our nation. And I encourage young people to consider military service as an aspect of service.

YP: Since the end of the Cold War, though, military enlistments have decreased significantly, as I am sure you know. What would you say to inspire young people to enlist?

Powell: Since the end of the Cold War, we have had a volunteer army, not a draft army. . . . The demands of Iraq caused some people to take a second look at it. And so for the last several months, the services have had more trouble.

But I still think service to the nation, even in places where there's danger, is worthwhile. And I hope that young people recognize that even with the dangers, they are contributing not only to the security of our nation but, more importantly, to helping other people create democratic nations in other parts of the world, so that they can live in the kind of system that we believe would provide a better life for them.

ASSISTANT EDITORS: Lauren Bruns, 14; Britany Lewis, 15; Keisha Mitchell, 16.

REPORTER: Justin Byers, 12.

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Y-Press members talk about their experiences in volunteer service

Justin Byers, 12

The volunteer activities that I participate in are based around helping children.

I've helped with the Salvation Army's "Coats for Kids," and I also am a member of the Salvation Army's Youth Advisory Panel.

Also, at my church we created the "Heart Project," in which we went to the Dayspring Center every week and helped the kids there.

It was more work than I thought it would be. We played a lot of games, and sometimes we watched movies, whatever they wanted to do. You have to have a lot of patience and learn how to deal with people who are different than yourself.

I liked playing games best. It was more hands-on, and I felt like they got to know me better.

I like to help kids. After all, kids are our future.

Lauren Bruns, 14

I have found it difficult to find volunteer activities because I'm not exactly sure what I have to offer. In my mind, volunteering is helping someone out. But I feel that in order to help someone, I have to be good at something. Trust me, you would not want me to build a house.

Besides being at Y-Press, I've volunteered at the Special Olympics and for a couple of golf outings at the course where my dad works.

But I do credit volunteering with strengthening my social skills, especially with people I don't know. I just entered high school, and I was sad to find that I do not have any of my friends in my classes. A year ago, I probably would have just sat there awkwardly. But this year is different. I have started talking to my classmates and am getting to know them.

Britany Lewis, 15

I have been involved with Teen Court for about a year, and I love it. Teen Court is a nonprofit diversion program designed to rehabilitate youth who have been charged with a first offense. It is staffed by teenagers who, under the mentorship of law students, serve as jurors, defense attorneys, prosecuting attorneys, bailiffs and clerks. The judge is the only adult. Sentences range from community service to attending workshops or providing restitution.

I believe Teen Court is an excellent program that has provided me with an in-depth look into the court system. After high school and undergraduate studies, I would like to go to law school and be a trial attorney. Teen Court also has put me in contact with law students and attorneys.

My service with Teen Court has been very rewarding. It has let me experience the entire court scene and what being a trial attorney is really like, and it has given me direction for the future.

Keisha Mitchell, 16

F or the past six years, I have been involved with many volunteer projects. Some I've done willingly, and some I've done because my mother made me. The one that taught me the most about life and service was my experience with Wheeler Mission.

In the fall of seventh grade at IPS School 91, I was assigned to a service project that involved feeding the poor at the mission. My friends and I were nervous. Our only contact with the homeless was from what we had seen on television. But when we arrived, I was excited to be assigned to dish out the food.

I was scooping mashed potatoes when I saw a woman and her newborn come in. The mother had on gloves with the fingertips cut out and a ratty tweed jacket, and her baby was wrapped in a blue blanket that looked like ones given to newborns at hospitals.

It was then that I realized how cruel life could be and how blessed I was to be able to help those in need.