User:Gyrinesdaughter



Ernest Powell Jr.(born December 25,1935) is a lifelong volunteer and community organizer, who never hesitated to answer a call for help, or an opportunity to    help improve the quality of life for family and countless others. Powell was so involved with community work that it was suggested to a young man who was just himself getting started with politics and community involvement, that he go and see, Mr. Powell.Powell had no way of knowing that he was advising and in a sense mentoring a future President of the United States of America, a very young Barack Obama. Barack Obama met with Powell several times in his home and grassroot organization meetings, and also accompanied the future President to Springfield, Illinois to meet with Senator Emil Jones as lobbyists. Once given the opportunity to chauffer Mrs. Rosa Parks while she visited Chicago for a speaking engagement, he gladly accepted the honor to drive the Mother of    the Civil rights movement to her appointed destinations.

Early life
Powell, who was born in Helena, Arkansas, but grew up in Memphis, Tennessee, moved with his parents, Earnest,and Minnie to Chicago in 1953.Shortly after moving to Chicago,he met and fell in love with Shirley Owens.Eventually he volunteered for the United States Marine Corps,where he attended Naval technical school,and was given the job of aircraft mechanic. Upon discharge from the Marines, Ernest returned home to Chicago and married Shirley. Shortly after Powell began what would become a lifelong commitment in community involvement,politics, and volunteering.He began by getting block clubs,committees, and other neighboorhood organizations up and running, where there had been no    interest in doing so before.Powell organized the first neighborhood Carnival and parade while working with the Greater Lawndale Community organization on Chicago's    west side.After moving to the south side of Chicago,he continued with his efforts to help out,and volunteered to manage little league baseball teams,got involved with Block clubs,and worked fervently to have a very much needed library built in    the Washington Heights area of Chicago.In 1975 The Carter G. Woodson Regional Library was opened on Chicago's far south side to serve his and many surrounding communities.

Political career
Having a natural way with people and exhibiting a strong sense of community and knack for helping others, a commanding figure towering at 6'6" height,    he was usually remembered by most and often called upon to join yet another     committee or campaign.He simultaneously worked full-time at United States Steel     as a Line foreman and was elected as the first African American Chairman of      the board for U.S.Steel's Southworks Employees Credit Union and wrote a                     column for a local newspaper. It was around this time that he campaigned      enthuiastically for Gus Savage who ran successfully for a seat in the     Illinois House of Representatives. His acquaintance with Representative Savage      spanned several years and probably influenced Powell's campaigning      skills and political prowess and involvement.

Powell continued his interest and involvement with local politics by campaigning and working as Precinct co-ordinator for Harold Washington's successful campaign for Mayor of Chicago,who became the first African American Mayor of that city. Shortly thereafter Powell had the priviledge of working closely with a very young and determined man with an odd name,who would eventually become the 44th President of the United States and the first African American person to hold that office. When Barack Obama[[ first came to Chicago, he was told to call upon Ernest Powell,    because Powell knew dozens of people who could point him in the right direction for     whatever Obama needed as far as community organizing. By this time Barack Obama had     become the Director of the [[Developing Communities Project,and called upon the help     of Powell and Loretta Augustine-Herron often to try and resolve a toxic dumping issue     that involved the far south side of Chicago and affected thousands of people.

Currently
Currently living in a suburb of Chicago, Powell still plays an active role in serving community,and acts as President for a suburban branch of the Veterans Commission outside of Chicago. He and his wife Shirley have been married for 52 years and recently received congratulatory greetings from President and Mrs. Obama on their successful marriage.