And Here's Lilly "In the Press"

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For Immediate Release               
Contact: Reks Brobby   (213) 891-2900 x. 28

Vice President Al Gore Addresses
Historic Inner City Economic Summit


Los Angeles - Before a crowd of over 600 government, community and private
sector leaders, Vice President Al Gore pressed the need for investment in
inner city communities across America.  He indicated that the communities of
America were missing out by not making available seed money to young
entrepreneurs with innovative ideas in distressed cities.

“Investment in our inner cities is not just a good deed, it is good business,” Vice President Gore said.  “We’re missing out in America because when a young entrepreneur has a good idea, that individual is going to create more jobs in the community, more wealth in the community, more investment by the people who live in the community in the future of that community.”

Under the leadership of Operation HOPE, Inc., America’s first non-profit
investment banking organization, and a broad cross section of supporting
organizations, in partnership with leaders from the private sector,
government and the civil society, the Summit Organizing Committee convened the first-ever national Inner-City Economic Summit.

This historic Summit meeting brought together substantive players on the
American economic field.  CEOs, business leaders, heads of federal government agencies, and community leaders used this event as an opportunity to chart a new course for the future of America’s urban, inner-city and under-served communities.

Over the course of the Summit, a broad cross section of more than 500
recognized private, public and community leaders came together focused on key issues impacting our inner-city economy.  These key issues were addressed in individual plenary sessions: (1) Education, Economic Literacy and Labor (2)
New Market Opportunities in Under-Served America, (3) Technology and Bridging the Digital Divide, (4) Creating a New Class of Stakeholders:  Home and Small Business Ownership, (5)  Safe Streets:  Public Safety, (6) Capital,
Investment & Finance, and (7) The Entertainment Industry and the Urban
Marketplace.

A partial list of summit attendees included:  John Bryant, Founder & CEO,
Operation HOPE; Congressman Julian Dixon; Congressman Xavier Becerra; L.A. County District Attorney Gil Garcetti; City Attorney James Hahn; Assemblyman Antonio Villaraigosa; Preston Martin, Former Vice Chairman, U.S. Federal Reserve Board; Michael Milken, Founder of the Milken Institute; John Mack, President of the Los Angeles Urban League and Rick Hartnack, Vice Chairman, Union Bank of California.

As a result of Operation HOPE’s overall Summit organizing effort, three
Southern California banks have committed a total of $3 million in home loans
to South-Central L.A. residents who do not meet conventional underwriting
standards.  Loan intermediary, Operation HOPE received commitments from Union Bank of California, Far East National Bank, and Hawthorne Savings at $1 million each.  These loans are expected to cover about two dozen loans that would be referred by Operation HOPE for those who would not otherwise qualify.

“This Summit strongly made the case that America’s urban, inner-city and
under-served communities represent, in fact, the last bastion of lost
capitalism in America, and a genuine ‘new markets’ opportunity where
everyone wins,” said John Bryant, Founder, President and CEO of Operation
HOPE.

In follow-up to the Summit, key participants will embark upon a 5-city
media tour to announce the outcomes of the Summit and identify new potential
market opportunities in other inner-city communities across America.
For additional information regarding outcomes of the Summit and the 5-city
media tour, contact Reks Brobby at (213) 891-2900 ext. 28.

Three NAWBO members strike an extraordinary partnership to manage an historic event in Los Angeles.  Tammy Baker, President & CEO of The Baker Group served as the Event Coordinator for the Summit and solicited the services of other NAWBO members, Lilly and Charmaine Wilkerson owners of And Here’s Lilly for the overall event management. Naz Keynejad, also a NAWBO member served as Hospitality Coordinator.   Another woman and minority business owner, Valencia Roner, President & CEO of VXR Enterprises was the PR firm hired to manage all press and media for the event.