Below is a news brief on a presentation to be given at the 2009 National Conference and Exhibition (NCE) of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). The AAP’s keynote address will be presented by Alma Powell, chair of the American’s Promise Alliance, at 11:10 am (ET), Saturday, Oct. 17, at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC.

For Release: Saturday, Oct. 17
11:10 a.m. (ET)

WASHINGTON, DC – Alma Powell, chair of America’s Promise Alliance and wife of the organization’s founding chairman, General Colin Powell, will present the keynote address Saturday, Oct. 17, at the National Conference and Exhibition (NCE) of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) in Washington, DC. 

Alma Powell will speak about the important roles pediatricians and the healthcare community play in helping children stay in school and succeed. According to Powell, all children need five essential life, health and academic resources—what American’s Promise Alliance calls the five promises—to succeed: caring adults, safe places, a healthy start, effective education and opportunities to help others. Of particular importance to NCE attendees is the healthy start promise.

“Pediatricians and their medical support staff are essential to ensuring more children experience this promise,” said Powell. “Along with parents, they are often the most important advocates for ensuring the emotional and physical health and well being of our young people.”

For more information about Powell’s address or America’s Promise Alliance, contact Colleen Wilber at 202-657-0647 or colleenw@americaspromise.org.

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The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 60,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.