Invest in UDC-CC
The front-page story, "Future of UDC-CC at Center of Special Council Hearing," October 18, 2012 is such a timely article. Higher education should be of major concern to every District of Columbia resident.
For years we have heard how those in charge of the University of the District of Columbia wanted to make it a world-class institution of higher learning, but couldn't achieve it because of the type of classes it had to offer to satisfy the needs of a majority of students entering from the city's public school system. The solution was a community college and it's the right one.
If the city and UDC are serious about higher education in the District, they need to commit whatever resources necessary for the community college system to succeed. There isn't a state in the union that doesn't have a community college system. It has proven to be the best way to help students that may not be prepared financially or academically to ready themselves for admittance to a four year institution.
UDC-Community College is in its infant stage and there will be growing pains, but we must not allow a few pains to get in the way of insuring a proven way of educating our youth. We should not allow UDC-Community College to be bounced around like our school system has been over the past few decades. It should be supported at any cost and built on a sound foundation to provide education and training for the residents of the District of Columbia.
Karen W. Joyce
Washington, D.C.
A Great Artist and Person
Thank you for your short but touching article, "Remembering Georgette S. Powell, Artist and Activist," October 18, 2012. Not only was Mrs. Powell a wonderful artist, more importantly she was a beautiful and caring person.
As a young artist living and working in Washington, D.C., I had the opportunity to work with Mrs. Powell when we were both members of the DC Chapter of the National Conference of Artists. Georgette, what she wanted everyone to call her, was always a very hard and tireless worker when it came to the tasks of the organization. She could provide timely encouragement, advice and guidance to the young artists when she noticed any sense of frustration within us.
It wasn't until years later when I attended a ceremony honoring Mrs. Powell that I learned the full extent of her artistic legacy. At that moment I began to wonder: if I as an artist were ever to reach the heights in my artistic career as she did, would I be able to be as humble and caring toward others as she always was? Mrs. Powell was a great artist, but more important for me, she was a great person.
Larry Saxton
Washington, D.C.
