Austin American-~tatesman April 19, 1999

Teaching by doing

~alph Barrer<IIM -S Johnny and Clem Cla rke will receive the Governor's Volunteer Awa rd today for the rr work with Vision Tour, which they started to help underprivrleged youths.

'My wife and I are a great team. I don't

make any big observations or

assumptions. J just practice the golden

rule as much as ~ t:an.'

Johnny Clarke

Couple help youths get fresh vision of future BY REBECCA THATCHER •\mencan-StatesrT'an raff

A s 111 ' mplovee of the Texas a ttor­ney ~ener:1l 's chrld support divi­s rnu . Clem Clarke sees a depress­mg number· of teen-agers whose

l <~.ck •lf dreams of their ' uture prompted ·hem '0 l1ave babies before their own ··h Ildhootl was over.

Probabll' no one would blame her if she spent her ,·enmgs on rhe h1ke-and·btke r.ratl or wrth 1 gooct murder mystery.

But Clarke 1ncl her husband . . Johnny. decided two )'Pars 1go to devote their ' 'e­nings and weekPnds ro helping teens de­velop 1 new VISIOn of the1r future. Their

) rgantzation. VislOn Totu·. gets strugghng youths 1m·olved ln volunteer ism and rakes them on a weekJong- summer tour to Wash· ington. D.C .. ;md New York City.

The 95 teen-agers visit the Cap1to l. the White Konse. the Stame of Libert)' and or her symbols of frL>edom. They also study Harnet Tubman ancl the underground ·a1lroarl. md they're challenged to rhmk ~ bout how they can ap[)ly the lessons ro heir own lives. Clarke sa1d. Go,·. George W. Bush wiU gh·ethe Clarkes

and n rne other Texas volunteers ,mel ,•ol· unteer orgamzations the Governor's Vol· unteer .\ward at 2 p.m . today ,tt the Govern01··s Mansion.

"Througl10ut the Lone Star State,

,•olunteers .tre reaching the IllttC'rat~ . tc!'d ing the homele ·s. helping rhe 11J anrl <'lc!Prl\· and wo rking ro improve rhe1r rouunuiu ties.· Bush said in ai1110llncm~; rhe awards -· RecogntztngOtltSWIHI i ngTf\X(lS \'OIUI11(1l'r"

i ·a -;tnall way w say 'tha n k ~·ou.· · Clem Clarke is n. communit\· t)tlll '<'iH.:h

coordinator fOt· the tttorncv ;enc-r:ll"-.. t) f·

lice . She has been a volunteer Ilt.\ustm e\'<' r s ince she rnoved here tn 19!k1. bur .; he w:b msp1red to beg1f1 Vision Tour when 1 24 ve;tr·old mother ·,f 1 pregnarit t:l- ycar-olrl ~trl came to her oiTice for help.

Clarke sa1d she grew up pour ·met dtd l l<lt tlunk much of herself IS :m 0\'l'l'IVPI,;: IH

See Couple's, 86

Couple's volunteer work ·s

onored Continued f rom Bl

teen-ager. But her father and a teacher pushed her to fulfill her dreams. she said.

She holds an undergraduate de­gree from Mississippi Valley State University and a master's in vo­cational rehabilitation counseling from Southern illinois University.

"My father always told me, 'Clem. if you don't have goals, if you don't have dreams. you have nothing. ' " she said.

Johnny Clarke. who holds an undergraduate degree in market­ingfrom the UniversityofTexas in San Antonio. takes responsibility for counseling many of the young men on the Vision Tour.

He said many of them lack male role models. and he enjoys show­ing them the proper way for grown men to talk and act.

''My wife and I are a great team," he said. "I don't make any big ob­servations or assumptions. I just practice the golden rule as much as [can."

Clarke works for Looksmart, an internet company.

Sam Loughlin, a lawyer with Vinson & Elkins who gives the Clarkes free legal advice. said he became interested in working with them when he saw Johnny Clarke speak to a group of youths at the Michael Jordan basketball linic last year. Loughlin said he knew from his

work as a substitute teacher how hard it is to keep teen-agers' at­tention. and yet all eyes and ears were tuned to what Johnny Clarke was saying.

··r was really impressed with their dedication and obvious love for these kids," he said.

Ralph Barrera/AA-S

Johnny and Clem Clarke walk through their neighborhood on Manor Road, where they have helped more than 170 teen-agers by involving them in volunteer work and organizing educational summer tours.

The summer tour is more than just a vacation for the youngsters, Loughlin said.

"It's not just travel, it's expo­sure, exposure to a way of thinking and a type of life that is unimag­inable to them," he said.

Monae Hutton, a sophomore at LBJ High School, was part of the Vision Tour last year and said the experience had a lasting effect on her.

"It made me want to be a part of my community," she said.

Another Austin organization,

VICTORY Tutorial Program, was among 12 finalists for the governor's award. The group, whose initials stand for Volun­teers in our Communities Tutor­ing our Responsible Youth, offers volunteer tutoring at the city's branch libraries. About 600 stu­dents have been tutored this year, said program supervisor Carolyn Shelley.

You may contact Rebecca Thatcher at rthatcher@statesman.com or 912-2941.

   

 

·~

 

 

 

 

 

JULIANA A. PEREZ

MATCH/PATCH PROGRAM

SAN ANTONIO

VOLUNTEER MANAGER/ADMINISTRATOR CATEGORY

When families are separated, juliana Perez is always there to pick up the pieces. She is

the program coordinator of both the Mothers And Their CHildren (MATCH) and the Papas And Their CHildren (PATCH) Programs. Perez initially volunteered in 1985 with MATCH, an innova­

tive inmate parenting program in which inmate mothers earn the privilege of a weekly one

hour contact visit with their children by attending parenting and life skills training during the

week and maintaining good behavior. Her social services background led her to realize it was

the children of the incarcerated who needed their parents the most, even though these parents

were behind bars. In 1989, Perez became a paid staff member of the MATCH program and to

support fathers with the same needs as mothers, the PATCH program started in 1993. For over ten years, with the assistance of hundreds of volunteers, she has provided parenting and life

skills education for over 4,000 inmate parents. Over 12,000 children have been helped with the

trauma of separation from their incarcerated parents. There are many individual success stories from program participants, ranging from par­

ticipants who returned to college, obtained full-time employment, became community advo­

cates and volunteers, and most importantly have chosen to be good citizens and positive par­

ents to their children. Children's school grades rose, their home and school behavior improved, their separation anxiety lessened and they were reassured of their parent's love and

physical safety. Perez's commitment to the children of her community, by working with their incarcerated parents, is an investment in breaking cycles of incarceration, neglect, violence, and

substance abuse.

-

JOHNNY AND CLEMETINE 'CLEM' CLARKE

VISION TOUR

AUSTIN

FAMILY CATEGORY

johnny and Clem have always been known as "doers" in their community. While

working at the Office of the Attorney General Child Support Division, Clem met a 24 year­

old grandmother. This meeting spurred her to take action. She and her husband johnny

already enjoyed many opportunities as board members of nonprofit organizations over the

years, but now they were ready to roll up their sleeves and get to work on giving young

people the hope of a better life. They created Vision Tour, a grassroots program designed

to teach young men and women to explore their world, to introduce them to people will­

ing to make a difference in their lives, and to constantly reinforce education and volun­tecrism.

The 'Tour' takes a group of young people on a summer trip, where they visit cities

like New York and Washington D.C., learning to explore hist01y and acquiring an apprecia­

tion for survival and freedom. The organization also holds monthly meetings and hands-on volunteer projects to continue the learning process. Their most ambitious project to elate

is the formation of the Urban Leadership Foundation. This corporate entity will extend the

reach of Vision Tour and provide young people opportunities to learn about business prac­

tices and the principles of entrepreneurship.

The Clarkes continue to profess their belief that if teens are productive citizens in

their respective communities, in turn, they will build productive cities, states, and coun­

tries. They are dedicated to encouraging young people to never give up having vision or hope for their future.

-

City of .9Lustin

Proc[amation r.Be it l(nown ~y these presents that

I, 1(fr/( Watson, Mayor of the City of .9Lustin, CI'e?(as, do hereby proc[aim

Jufg9, 1998 .9ls

o/ision fJ'our '98 f})ag

in .9Lustin, and ca[[ on a[[ citizens to join me in recognizing that 1/ision ?:our, nominated for the Presidentia[ 1000 Points of Light

.9Lwarc£ JCPennys' (jo[den 2{ufe .9Lward and the foca[ 1(1/11124 ":Five Who Care "Community Service .9Lwarc£ has gained nationa[ attention from r.B[acl( tE,ntertainment rrefevision and has proved successju[ in redirecting .9Lustin's

youth to successju[ vo[unteerism and job opportunities as we[[ as motivating .9Lustin's youth to makJ_ a difference in their communities, and in recognizing .

that the program's commitment to vo[unteerism has fed to a phenomena[ success rate in the prevention of teenage pregnancy as we[[ as a reduction in

negative socia[ patterns among teens, and in recognizing that the devotion of time and energy to such a program, wi[[ fead to a better society for to day's

th and the youth of future generatiqns.

J/xvt]}Jrg~ !Jvfayor

Xjr(. 'Watson

Sunday, May 24, 1998

Vision Tour an eye--opener for disadvantaged T he woman was

24 years old and asking about

child support, not for her child, but for her grandchild.

She had given birth to a daughter when she was 12 and now her 12-year-old daughter had a baby.

The woman she asked was Clementine Clarke, 31, of Austin, who works in the Child Support

PENNIE BOYETT

Division of the attorney general's office . The question from the 23-year­old grandmother touched her in a spe­cial way.

She came home and told her husband that serving on boards and writing policies was no longer enough . Even her job, which included going to schools to talk about teen pregnancy prevention and responsible parenting was not enough.

"The thing I had been hearing over the years from all these 12- and 13-year­old mothers was that they had no hope, no vision. Nobody loved them, so they had a child to find something that they could love, who would eventually love them back," Ms. Clarke said. She spent a restless night wondering what she could do.

She thought of a trip . "These young parents, they had

never been anywhere, never done any­thing ," she told her husband. Taking them outside of Austin could open their eyes to new possibilities.

Vision Tour was born.

·Eager to pitch in Although teen pregnancy is a con­

cern throughout Texas, some people

© 1998, Arlmgton Morning News

--------~u·~,SK antedtod~o--~--------·'-'L-----~~-1--~--~L_~~JL __ J_JL_!jl_]L_

A gift of world vision C lemetine and Johnny Clarke

bring different passions to Vision Tour, a program for teen-agers

created three years ago in Austin. She is inspired by the caring adults

who mentored her when she was an awkward young girl with a reading dis­ability. He is in­spired by his son, who lives in another city, to help local teen-agers.

This year , the nonprofit organiza­

call her, has met 23-year-old grand­mothers whose vision of the world doesn't extend beyond their neighbor­hood. And she has worked with incar­cerated youth who had never visited

another city.

tion has received the Clemetine and Johnny Clarke

To broaden teen­agers' horizons, the Clarkes take them on tours of U.S. cities, pair them with adult mentors and enlist them in local community -service projects. In 1997, they took 85 teen-agers on a tour of historically black colleges. In 1998, Governor's Volun­

teer Award in the category of family service. Only 10 community groups throughout the state are receiving the award, and Vision Tour is the only Austin organization being honored. A ceremony is scheduled for April 19 at the Governor's Mansion.

Vision Tour's goal is to help teen­agers, many who lack exposure to college-educated adults and profes­sionals, make better choices through exposing them to new experiences. As an employee at the Texas Attorney

_ General's Office, Clem, as her friends

they took 85 youth to Washington, D.C., and New York City, where they visited cultural and historical sites.

This year, participants will follow the trail of the Underground Railroad, the perilous trek to freedom for runaway slaves.

A CD case distributed by Vision Tour is inscribed with this powerful quote from Mark Twain: "Explore. Dream. Discover."

The program has helped local youth to do so. It is more than worthy of the award.

Pregnant children F or Clemetine Clarke the choices

were simple: Do something or do nothing about the myriad issues

facing teen-agers. As an employee at the Texas Attorney

General's Office she met 23-year-old grandmothers and pregnant children whose vision of the world didn't extend beyond their

young lives. Her follow-up initiative is Vision

Tour '98 - Freedom Quest, which will bring "Teen Summit," a nationally televised program on Black Entertain­ment Television, to Austin next week. The popular BET show, which has a live

audience, wanted to tape a program in Texas on

neighborhood. (Today, she's a new business rep­resentative at Pepsi Cola.) She also has worked with incarcerated youth who had never visited another city. Their limited expe­riences limited their choices.

Austin also beat out the other cities

teen pregnancy. Clarke's persistence lured the producers to Austin rather than Dallas or Houston. which were initially considered be­cause of their large pop­ulations. She is respon­sible for selecting from throughout the state the teen-age audience mem­bers for the program which will be taped Feb. 28 at the KLRU studios.

Vision Tour '97, which took Austin teen-agers to Washington, D.C., was Clarke's attempt to help youth see the infinite possibilities for their lives and prevent more child mothers and teen-age ::riminals. It was success­_ul. Eighty-five teen-agers and 15 adult mentors traveled to Washington via Atlanta, sharing ex-

because of a tragic statistic: Travis County has one of the

highest teen-age

pregnancy rates in the

state.

But Austin also beat out the other cities be­cause of a tragic statistic: Travis County has one of the highest teen-age pregnancy rates in the state.

periences and dreams for their lives as they stopped at attractions along the route. Since the trip, the teen-agers collectively have spent more than 100 hours in community service projects.

However, by focusing attention on the problem via "Teen Summit," Clarke may help Austinites pool the resources to tackle the problem.

She deserves our gratitude for taking an interest in our youth. For more in­formation about Vision Tour '98, call 928-4075.

Clarke's is the type of grass-root. hands-on effort that can transform

-

IF THE SHOE FITS

Allstaters put best foot fo rward with shoe drive

··_, ·-".> .... -~~~ 'r! S:.,t 1 i( - ... ~'·1 !} ... , 't..'

"a .: u ~- : ; ··,~ .i' '":c

Housing Authority of '\ usun, Austin Resource

Center for the Homeless, Cedar Ridge

Children's Home ~md He,llthy Families ot-_;._iVL\GL E NOT OWNING A DECENT PAIR OF T ra\·is County

shoes to wear to work or not being able to Shoe drive coorduutor Jnd Agent

atiord a pair of shoes for Advocate Nancy Draper

vour child to wear to sl\·S lJstHe's particip.t-

school It is unthinkable for t1on helped double the

!llost ot- us, but for low- number of shoes collecL-

incomc individuals and ed t'or the drive.

families. it is .1 f.tct of ltfe . .. The agents were cxcit -

Now. through the etforts of ed .1bout the response

Allst~tte agenrs ~111d employees they received ,wd ['nl

in the Austin .lrt.',!. more Liun ,llre.tdy gettiug calls .1bout two thou-;,md pair-; of-ncw or do1ng it agaiu this ye.~r."

gently used shoes ,neon the s.1ys D 1·aper.

feet ot-mcn, women .tnd f\usti11 Urban

chi lclrcn in need L t',l de rs h 1 p Fo und,lt 1 on

The effort was a partncr- Dirl'ctOr Clem Cl.Jrk s.1ys

ship between Allsute\; Auslin t\ llst.ltc's p.nticip.l tlOtl in

Market Cbiu1 Ottl.ce, agents the shoL' drivc hel~)t'd

am1 Thc Urban Leadership make the effort ,l grcll

Founchrion, a non-profit ~uccess.

organization in Austin. ·' [ really enjoyed working

Collection boxes -..-~-------•----•PII"'M~~'~~~-••-IIII!'•'!rll \Vith the Allstate

were set up 111

agent offices

throughout AustilL

Postcards were sent

to customers, and newspaper ads were

used to publicize

the effort and

request donations.

The shoes were

donated to the East

Austin Heald1)

Neighborhood

Association, the Allstate employees and Aust1n area volunteers gather to sort and d1stnbute shoes for the The Bottomless Closet Shoe Dnve.

employees and

seeing them get

involved," says

Clark, "and this

event has ,l great impact on tht'

conununicy. One

young person who

received a pair of

shoes chat day told

us that it was the

first pair of new shoes he had ever

owned!"

July7, 1998

Ms. Clementine Clarke Project Coordinator

·Vision Tour P.O. Box 140553 Austin, TX 78714

Dear Ms. Clarke,

AT&T 5th Floor 5501 LBJ Freeway Dallas, Texas 75240

AT&T is proud to sponsor the 1998 Vision Tour. The Vision Tour project contributes in a substantial way to improving the community, a commitment that AT&T values highly. We look forward to hearing of your wonderful experience when you return. Good Luck and Bon Voyage!

]p~~ Darrick Eugene Government Affairs, AT&T

• • • • c

OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN

PO. Box T ·Austin, Texas 78713-8920

(512) 471-1232 ·FAX (512) 471-8102

July 1, 1998

Mrs. Clemetine Clarke Post Office Box 140802 Austin, Texas 78714-0802

Dear Mrs. Clarke:

It is my pleasure to invite you to serve on the School of Social Work Advisory Council of The University of Texas at Austin for a three-year term, beginning September 1, 1998.

As a member of the advisory council, you provide a link between The University and the greater community, helping to educate and inform others about programs and activities taking place in the School of Social Work. You also assist in obtaining financial support from private sources for the benefit of the School.

I look forward to your participation as a member of this important advisory group. A response form and postage-paid envelope are enclosed for your convenience, or, you may prefer to fax your response to 512/475-7743.

Your commitment to The University is greatly appreciated.

LRF/drw

Enclosures

cc: Vice President Johnnie Ray Dean Barbara W. White

GURASICH SPENCE DARILEK MCCLURE

October 11 , 1999

Clementine & Johnny Clark Urban Leadership Foundation P.O. Box 140553 Austin, TX 78714-0553

Dear Clem & Johnny:

We at GSD&M are thrilled to have the opportunity to participate in a partnership with the Austin Symphony and the Johnson/Long Dance Company in the world premiere of Grand Motion, a multi-media musical event by Austin composer Darden Smith. We would like to invite you and the young people of the Urban Leadership Foundation to be our guests at a very special Dress Rehearsal Performance on Thursday, November 4 at Bass Concert Hall.

In Grand Motion, Darden Smith traverses the country's emotional and historical landscape from the late 1800s to the rapidly approaching millennium and beyond. Acknowledging and praising the American spirit, Grand Motion marvels at where we have come from and where we are headed. I believe this unique collaboration of live music and dance communicates a message of hope for the next century-a message especially relevant to young people.

From our own experience at Idea City, we have learned that to communicate in a powerful way, you must intrigue, captivate, entertain and encourage someone to feel and to think. I believe that Grand Motion will do just that. A unique, live theatrical experience such as this can inspire the imagination of a young person to go places and seek challenges never before thought possible.

Darden Smith, as well as members of the symphony and dance company, have generously agreed to spend time visiting with our young guests, allowing them to take part in a night they will never forget. The program will be appropriate for kids from the sixth grade up, and we ask that you provide your own transportation and at least one adult to accompany every 1 0 kids attending. Please send us your list of students and their addresses by Monday, October 18 so that we may mail each of them an invitation. You may fax this list to Ellen Hanrahan at 427-4700

Knowing that we share the same passion for the future of our youth, I hope you and t~eople you work with will join us for this very special occasion.

Bes(reaard~

IDEA CiTY • 828 WF.ST 6TH ST. • AUSTIN, TX • 7870) • PHONE 512 127 47_}6 • I'AX 512 427 4700

Clementine Clarke Urban Leadership Foundation 815-A Brazos Austin, TX 78701

Dear Clementine Clarke,

Allstate® FOUNDATION

Congratulations! The Urban Leadership Foundation has been awarded an Allstate Foundation grant.

Enclosed is the check in the amount of $5,000 from the Allstate Foundation. For tax and bookkeeping purposes, it is very important that you deposit this check as soon as it is received.

To positively promote your organization's program and the work of the Allstate Foundation, we will contact you to set-up an official grant presentation with Michael Walker. Please note you will not need the original check for this presentation.

Please feel free to contact me at 972-871-1758 or via e-mail aftexas@allstate.com if you have any questions.

Again, congratulations on receiving an Allstate Foundation grant. Allstate salutes you and the Urban Leadership Foundation for making a difference in the community.

Sincerely,

Sandy Hsu Allstate Foundation Coordinator

CC: Michael Walker

ID'4~ j;~n.at~ nf

ltlf~ ~tttt~ .nf ~.exat• GONZALO BARRIENTOS STATE SENATOR

May 26, 1998

Ms. Clementine Clark Vision Tour'98 P. 0. Box 140553 Austin, Texas 78714

DISTRICT 14

P.O. BOX 12068 AUSTIN. TEXAS 78711

HAYS (PARn & TRAVIS (PART) COUNTIES

Dear Ms. Clark and Participants in the Vision Tour'98:

(512) 463-0114 FAX: (512) 463-5949

TOO: 1-800-735-2989

I am envious. I only wish that when I was a teenager there was a program like Vision Tour'98. As we approach the new millenium, it is crucial that our youth have an opportunity to see other cities, talk to people from differenct social , economic and cultural backgrounds, and gain a sense of their own history as well as that of their country.

FreedomQuest is a great idea and will offer great challenges to all of its participants. I commend everyone involved in putting together Vision Tour'98 and know that you are helping our youth explore other experiences that will shape their future lives. By visiting New York, Philadelphia, and· Washington, D.C., this year's participants in Vision Tour'98 will be visiting historical sites and covering geographical areas that play a role in the formation of our nation's history. Not many of us, at any time in our lives, are able to do what you will be doing this summer. I urge you to make the most of it: learn as much as you can, question who you are and how you fit into American History, and talk, talk, talk to everyone. Then, come back and share your experiences with your friends, family, and neighbors.

By going on FreedomQuest, you have already made a statement that you want to explore what other people haye to offer. All of us can make a difference in our own lives and that of others. I hope you have a great trip.

Sin~erely, 25: £:/'-.

~ Gonzalo Barrientos State Senator

GB!bfu

LLOYD DOGGEIT

COMMITTEE ON Tf-'E BU DGET

COMM!I.E !: ON RE SOURCES

Vision Tour '98 P.O. Box 140553 Austin, Texas 78714

~*> ([ongress of the United States

!-1ousc of Representatiocs

March 13 , 1998

Dear Students and Chaperones:

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Av STIN . rx 7870'

• 51219 1&-5~ ? 1

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Vision Tour '98 will be making its way to Washington, D.C. this summer and I want to extend my best wishes to you on your trip . I know that you will find this experience educational as well as an event to treasure for years to come.

Washington, D.C. is rich with history and excitement. This tour will give both students and chaperones a firsthand look at how our country was built, where we have been, where we are today, and a glimpse into the 21st century. You are truly fortunate to have this opportunity to visit the nation's Capitol and experience history in the making.

As your Congressman, it is an honor to serve you and your families in Washington, D.C. As I walk the halls of the Capitol every day, I am reminded of the historical traditions and democratic spirit of this city and hope you experience this as well. I look forward to seeing you upon your arrival at the Capitol.

Sincerely,

OQINTEO ON AECYCL£D DAPEA

MAILING:

CITY

Mrs. Clementine Clark Vision Tour '99 P.O. Box 140553 Austin, Texas 78714

Dear Mrs. Clarke:

OF SAN

MARIO SALAS COUNCILMAN

DISTRICT2

ANTONIO

October 1, 1998

As we approach the new millennium, it is crucial that our youth have an opportunity to see other cities, talk to people from different social, economic, and cultural backgrounds, and gain a sense of their own history as well as that of their country.

Vision Tour is a great idea and will offer great challenges to all of its participants. I commend everyone involved in putting Vision Tour '99 together, and know that you are helping our youth explore other experiences that will shape their lives in a positive way. Together we can make a difference, and I strongly recommend that all who are willing become involved with our youth and the future that they hold.

Your success in Austin for the past three years has yielded not only national attention by way of Black Ent.ertainment Television, but I am also aware that you were a finalist in the Presidential Points ofLight program. Congratulations! Your ability to work with the corporate community and the social service community is commendable. I know that we can expect the same level of professionalism and commitment to the young men and women of San Antonio that those of Austin have enjoyed by way ofVision Tour.

I look forward to your making the most of your trip, and giving the young men and women who will explore our world an opportunity of a lifetime. I know that I will enjoy the stories that will no doubt result from the trip and the many pictures and fond memories that are sure to be created.

Sincerely,

VJ~~h---Mario Marcel Salas City Council, District 2

P.O. BOX 839966 CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS CITY HALL (21 0) 207-7040

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS 78283-3966 FAX (210) 207-7027

TEXAS' PLEDGE KEEPING AMERICA'S PROMISE'M

September 16, 1999

Ms. Clemetine Clark P.O. Box 140802 Austin, Texas 78714

Dear Ms. Clark,

P.O. Box 13385

Austin, Texas 78711-3385 Tel. 512.463.1814

Fox 512.463.1861

VI/WIIY.txserve.org

I am writing to invite you to serve on the 1999-2000 Texas Pledge Advisory Council. Because Governor Bush and I want to help Texas young people find the resources they need to become successful, we have made personal and professional commitments to The Texas Pledge.

During the 1997 Presidents' Summit for America ' s Future, five U.S. presidents and General Colin Powell declared their bipartisan support for an initiative called America's Promise - The Alliance for Youth. America's Promise works to provide children with five fundamental resources to help them become successful adults:

Mentor- An ongoing relationship with a caring adult: mentor, tutor, coach Protect - Safe places and structured activities during non-school hours to learn and grow Nurture - A healthy start Teach - A marketable skill through effective education Serve- An opportunity to give back through community service

After the Presidents ' Summit, my husband answered General Powell 's national call to action, proclaiming a major statewide initiative to improve the lives of young people in Texas. This initiative, The Texas Pledge - Keeping America's Promise, is led by the Texas Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service (TxCVCS) and Rosie Mauk, TxCVCS chairwoman. Through local initiatives, TxCVCS helps solve the state's problems by encouraging volunteer participation and community service.

The Texas Pledge- Keeping America's Promise is in its second year of operation. Currently, 28 communities take part in this important and worthwhile project. In the next few weeks, you will receive a letter from Dr. Cathy Hirt, chairwoman of the Texas Pledge Executive Committee, detailing the program. You will also receive information on the first meeting of the Texas Pledge Advisory Council, to be held on Sunday, October 17, during the second annual Texas Pledge State Summit in Fort Worth. The 22"d annual Governor's Volunteer Leadership Conference will be held in conjunction with the summit.

Thank you for caring about the children of Texas.

Honorary Chairwoman The Texas Pledge

AMERICAS PROMISE THE ALLIANCE FOR YOUTH™

909 North Washington Street

Suite 400 Alexandria, VA22314-1556 Tel. 703.684.4500 Fox 703.535.3900

www.americaspromise.org