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“Silver Rights” Activists Mayor Dellums and Bank of the West Receive Awards on Eve of HOPE Oakland Financial Literacy Empowerment Forum

OAKLAND, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–On the eve of the first ever HOPE Oakland Financial Literacy Empowerment Forum, Operation HOPE hosted a private event in downtown Oakland in honor of Martin Luther King III.

“Rebirth of America and the Effect on Underserved Communities, Post Economic Crisis.”

“For a movement to take place, it needs leaders on the ground, said Operation HOPE Founder, Chairman and CEO John Hope Bryant, who this week was appointed to the President’s Advisory Council on Financial Capability by the Obama Administration. “Martin Luther King III stands for the ideals his father and his grandfather held dear. In becoming his own man, Martin has been able to advance the needs of the underserved and the needy in his own way.”

As a human rights advocate, community activist and a political leader, King has been actively involved ensuring the fair and equitable treatment of all people here and around the world. He has aggressively fought injustice in the civil, local, state, and federal arenas. The founding president of the nonprofit coalition force "Realizing the Dream," King now is the President and CEO of The King Center, where he has taken up the torch lit by his father and grandfather. He serves Operation HOPE as Senior Advisor to the Office of the Chairman and as an official HOPE “silver rights” spokesman.

King received a special video message from his father’s closest advisor, Ambassador Andrew Young, who recalled the time he introduced him to the Klu Klux Klan when he was eight years-old. “Although he wasn’t anxious to get involved, either was he intimidated,” said Young. “He has been on the front lines of our struggle whether he wanted to be or not. He has had to bear the burdens of a great legacy.”

HOPE broke ground earlier this year on the Operation HOPE Financial Literacy Empowerment Center, which will become a part of the to-be-built Martin Luther King, Sr. Center at historic Ebenezer Baptist Church. Mayor Ronald Dellums and the City of Oakland recognized King’s work, proclaiming October 18th as Martin Luther King III Day.

Mayor Dellums was also honored, receiving the Chairman’s HOPE Award for his strong leadership, consistency of public service and support of the Silver Rights Movement. Dellums, who served in Congress from 1971-1998, also received a message from Ambassador Young, recalling their days in Congress together.

Bank of the West received an award for their trailblazing leadership in creating a HOPE Center within a local bank. Through their partnership with HOPE, Bank of the West has made it possible to provide financial literacy to the greater Bay Area and educate over 18,000 youth in financial literacy through HOPE’s award-winning program Banking on Our Future.

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The evening’s reception comes on the eve of the HOPE Oakland Financial Literacy Empowerment Forum which brings together leaders from the community and hundreds of guests to discuss strategies and solutions for the “Rebirth of America and the Effect on Underserved Communities, Post Economic Crisis.”

 

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