Humanitarian and thought leader keynotes
morning activities on second day

MEMPHIS – December 12, 2013John Hope Bryant, Operation HOPE founder, chairman and CEO traveled to Memphis, TN to receive a Humanitarian Award and provide remarks at the National Black Caucus 37th Legislative Conference (NBCSL) December 11 – 17, 2013. Bryant was recognized for his work to empower underserved communities.

"It is an honor to be recognized by my peers," said Bryant upon accepting the esteemed award. "It is a personal mission to not only to honor the life and work of Martin Luther King, Jr., but to continue his unfinished work, moving from civil rights to “silver rights” or the right to financial literacy, access to capital, and equity of opportunity for the underserved. Our new movement through Project 5117 is focused on freeing and enriching people’s spirit, as much as it is about growing net worth advancing economic standing." 

The conference theme, "PROGRESS: Moving Our States Forward through Policy Action" features a multitude of presentations and discussions all aimed at addressing current legislative issues in the black community.

The NBCSL is a membership association representing more than 600 African American state legislators hailing from 45 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. NBCSL members represent more than 50 million Americans of various racial backgrounds. NBCSL monitors federal and state activity and provides this information to its members through policy symposiums and conferences. Each year, NBCSL members focus on issues and adopt policy resolutions that directly impact federal and state policy. NBCSL is committed to policies that positively impact black communities.

John Hope Bryant is an entrepreneur, author, adviser, and one of the nation's recognized empowerment leaders. He is founder, chairman and CEO of Operation HOPE, and Bryant Group Companies, Inc. He is widely published and author of LOVE LEADERSHIP: The New Way to Lead in a Fear-Based World (Jossey-Bass). Bryant is a thought leader represented by the Bright Sight Group for public speaking internationally. He serves on the board of directors of Ares Commercial Real Estate Corporation, a publicly traded specialty finance company that is managed by an affiliate of Ares Management LLC, a global alternative asset manager with $60 billion in committed capital under management as of December 31, 2012.

Along with Chairman Bryant, the week-long event featured keynotes by:

Dr. Dennis Rahiim Watson Motivational Speaker; CeCe Winans, Grammy Award-Winning International Recording Artist; Interviewer: Melanie Shelby Managing Director Gray, Greer, Shelby, & Vaughn, LLC; Shannon A. Brown Senior Vice President / Chief HR and Diversity Officer FedEx Express; Reverend Keith Norman Senior Pastor, First Baptist Church; Lynn Whitfield Emmy Award-Winning Actress; and Moderator: Roland S. Martin, Award-winning Journalist and Political Analyst. 

Providing a voice for under-represented and impoverished communities, NBCSL unites black legislators from across the country and presents their issues on a national scale. Each year, NBCSL meets to discuss policy issues and best practices, and to pass policy resolutions that embody the inherent core values of the organization, which includes policy issues, health disparities, renewable energy, housing, education, and emergency preparedness. NBCSL uses policy innovation, social equity, and collaboration to implement policies that will protect and benefit all Americans. 

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