Media advisory- MLK Celebration 2007

WHAT: "Financial Freedom Seminar: Achieving Economic Independence Through Education"

WHEN: 8:30 a.m.- 3 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 20

• 9 a.m.- Keynote address by John Bryant, founder, chairman, and chief executive officer of Operation Hope, a non-profit and a leading national provider of economic empowerment tools and services for the underserved.

WHERE: Washington University's Brown Hall, near the intersection of Forsyth Boulevard and Chaplin Drive.

WHO: Sponsored by the Society of Black Student Social Workers, the George Warren Brown School of Social Work, the Center for Social Development, The Gephardt Institute, Gateway Bank of St. Louis, the St. Louis Clergy Coalition and Southwest Bank.

COST: Free and open to the public

WHY: "SBSSW's goal is to present the King Holiday, not as a tradition or a history lesson, but as a call to action- to fight for economic and social justice," says Charletra Hurt, SBSSW co-chair and first-year student at the School of Social Work. "Financial management resources are often not easily accessible through local institutions for African Americans. In addition, these resources are usually presented with language or examples that do not capture the attention or address issues relevant to African Americans. More information is needed to help African Americans to wisely manage their resources and use their economic base to break cycles of poverty and build assets."

FOR MORE INFORMATION: (314) 935-9116