Inaugural meeting includes room dedication ceremony featuring icon’s portrait

LOS ANGELES, CA – February 15, 2007 – The Corporate Council of CEO’s, an initiative of Operation HOPE, welcomed Ambassador Andrew Young to their inaugural meeting to share his experience and vision on how to make capitalism work for the poor. 

Ambassador Young stated, “Communism failed because it could not create a middle class. And capitalism succeeded precisely because it did create a middle class.  But capitalism and the free enterprise system has not yet proven itself relevant to the poor.”  His remarks to the CCOC centered on the need for continued work and to encourage investors to finish the second step of civil rights – economic empowerment for underserved communities.


Operation HOPE Vice Chairman, Timothy Chrisman said, “The Corporate Council of CEO’s is dedicated to helping promote ‘silver rights’ by facilitating opportunities and providing support for new businesses in under-resourced neighborhoods. Our goal to eradicate poverty is as much about advancing economic standing as it is about enriching one’s spirit.”

In honor of Ambassador Young’s lifetime of commitment to human equality, Operation HOPE dedicated its newly remodeled board room to him before the conclusion of the meeting.  Founder, Chairman and CEO, John Hope Bryant, said, “We dedicate this board room to civil rights leader and American icon, Ambassador Andrew Young, in recognition of his leadership in the struggle for equality and human rights for all people.  He is an inspiration and role model for men and women of all races. His life exemplifies his passionate commitment for a just society and his vision for a better world.  Andrew Young said, “If Martin were alive today, the work of Operation HOPE is the work he would be doing.  He would be working to eliminate poverty.”  John Hope Bryant thanked Ambassador Young, global spokesman for Operation HOPE, for helping further define the mission of “Silver Rights”.

Over 25 chief executive officers from corporate and financial institutions attended the February 8th meeting at Los Angeles Corporate office. Those in attendance included: Randy Bowers, Malaga Bank; Matthew Toledo, Los Angeles Business Journal; Theresa Gage Durham, National Alliances Live Nation; Carl Ballton, Union Bank of California Foundation; Ben Tunnell, lll, BTI Appraisal; Robert Brown, The University of West Los Angeles School of Law; Rod McGrew, Love & Happiness Productions; William Barrett, Jr., Fiduciary Trust International; Wayne-Kent Bradshaw, Washington Mutual Bank; Blair Taylor, CEO of the Los Angeles Urban League; Natalie Cole, OurWeekly Los Angeles; William Hanna, Pacific Western Bank; Chien "Chris" Huang, EverTrust Bank; Dan Meiri, Bank Leumi USA; Keith Murray, PCV/MURCOR Real Estate Services; Thomas Nix, Navicert Financial, Inc.; Raul Pickett, El Futuro Credit Union; Barry Sanders, Southern California Committee for the Olympic Games and David Simon, Los Angeles Sports.

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