An email announcement from Dr. McClaney, some quick thinking by Ms Carolyn Bettis and a confirmation from Katherine Carey brought Ms Bettis together with acclaimed poetess Nikki Giovanni. 

Ms Bettis was awarded a scholarship from The National Rosenwald Schools Foundation to attend a conference, held at Tuskegee University, on The Rosenwald Schools.

Starting in 1912, The Rosenwald Schools Project has been called, "most influential philanthropic force that came to the aid of Negroes at that time."  A partnership with Julius Rosenwald, the Chairman of Sears and Roebuck, and Booker T. Washington became the genesis of grant money providing for the construction and staffing of over 5,000 schools for African-Americans in 15 states.  One of these schools, currently under restoration, is located just outside of the City of Notasulga.

Ms Bettis said of the conference, "Meeting & talking to my favorite poet, Nikki Giovanni was great but the things I learned at last week's National Rosenwald Schools Conference held at Tuskegee University was life changing!!! This was by far THE BEST professional & personal development conference I have ever attended!! The story of what Julius Rosenwald & Booker T Washington did for the Macon County community & the world must be told! It's too amazing to be kept a secret!! I did not realize how vital Tuskegee Institute was to my community...to my being able to get an education! I have a developed a new love and respect for Tuskegee Institute/University. Even though I'm a graduate of Alabama State University, after this conference, I think I may love Tuskegee more because of Booker T. Washington's effort & vision & Julius Rosenwald's kindness & generosity."

A bit of trivia.  On Nikki Giovanni's left arm is a tattoo of Tupac Shakur, who Ms Giovanni called "The Greatest Poet of Our Time".

For more information about the Rosenwald Schools, please click HERE.