Hip Hop Summit in Houston

This week, Russell Simmons, Dr. Benjamin Chavis, the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network (HSAN) and Walmart will convene the national Hip-Hop Summit on Financial Empowerment entitled "Get Your Money Right" in Houston. The event will offer valuable and timely financial information from financial experts, celebrities and community leaders. Free to the public, the summit will take place Sat., Oct. 17 at the Granville M. Sawyer Auditorium on the campus of Texas Southern University, 3100 Cleburne Street, Houston, Texas 27403. Doors open at 12:00 p.m.

Financial literacy is critical as multicultural communities are disproportionately impacted by the economic downturn. For example, the unemployment rate has increased and the share of the working-age population that is employed has fallen more for immigrant Latinos. In addition, the African-American job loss exceeds one million as a result of the recession, representing more than 60 percent of the total increase in the number of those unemployed.

"The recession continues to hit the minority communities the hardest and without financial literacy, those communities will not be able to move forward to improve their standards of living," said Russell Simmons, chairman and co-founder of HSAN. "The 'Get Your Money Right' Hip-Hop Summit in Houston will be the perfect opportunity for leaders in the Hip-Hop community to share invaluable information about financial empowerment."

"At Walmart, we understand the importance of financial management. This is why we continue to strive to provide our communities with resources and products at affordable prices to help individuals manage their personal finances," said Ron Acosta, regional vice president, Southwest Division, Walmart. "Our partnership with HSAN in this event and ongoing financial literacy programs, along with expanded financial products, services and locations, are an extension of our core mission to help people save money, so they can live better."

Confirmed artists and celebrities scheduled to participate in the Hip-Hop Summit on Financial Empowerment in Houston include Russell Simmons, BET's Alesha Renee, Slim Thug, and Dr. Benjamin Chavis. 97.9 The Box is the exclusive radio partner for the Hip-Hop Summit in Houston.