Prominent McLean Neighbor Joins Ex-Governor for MLK Observance

McLean neighbor Alma Powell joins former Gov. George Allen* Monday at the Northern Virginia Urban League to present awards inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King to outstanding Northern Virginia volunteers.

The Northern Virginia Urban League (NVUL) is hosting the Martin Luther King Day of Service Program entitled “Dream Makers and Achievers” at the Freedom House Slave Museum in Alexandria.

The NVUL founder will be recognized along with six other African American leaders representing each NOVA county will receive the MLK Drum Major Presidential Service Awards to recognize their service. 

Terri Braxton, NVUL’s new president and CEO, will also talk about NVUL’s strategic direction, according to a announcement from the governor's office.

Alma J. Powell, Chair, America's Promise Alliance, sits on the boards of several educational, cultural, charitable and civic organizations. She is the chairman of the board of America’s Promise Alliance, whose mission is to mobilize people from every sector of American life to build the character and competence of youth. Mrs. Powell also chairs the advisory board for Civic Change, Inc. and serves on the YouthBuild USA Advisory Board.

She is also the wife of Colin Powell, former Secretary of State, former  head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and a Vietnam veteran.

The honorees are:

Canon John C. Davis, NVUL founder

Region:   James and Juliette McNeil, philanthropists

Alexandria:  Alice Morgan, volunteer and mental health social worker

Arlington:  Mary Haskins, volunteer and Alzheimer caregiver advocate

Fairfax: Felicia Kessel Crawley, volunteer and Voices of Worship founder

Loudoun:   Nancy Finley Barbour, co-convener NOVA Coalition

Prince William:  Joanne Bagnerise, activist and advocate         

If you have Martin Luther King events you'd like to share with the neighbors please put them in the comments section with this story.        

*Correction: An earlier edition of this story incorrectly reported that the current Virginia governor was attending the ceremony. We deeply apologize to our readers.