Earlier this month the Boston Area Church League in partnership with the Boston Red Sox honored Teri Williams, President and COO of OneUnited Bank — the largest black-owned bank in the nation with more than $630 million in assets — with the 2015 Community Leadership Award at The 13th Annual Community Fellowship Luncheon at the Hilton Boston Bay Hotel, Fenway Ballroom.
Williams is the only female honoree that has been recognized for her leadership in teaching financial literacy through various programs within OneUnited Bank’s retail branches in Massachusetts, Florida and California. Programs include: Smart Money Summer School, which holds financial literacy workshops for adults in OneUnited Bank branches, including Roxbury and Grove Hall; the OneUnited Mural Project — a public art works, youth development, community beautification program providing arts enrichment through STEAM education; “Yes! In Our Backyard” — a 12-month community based initiative project to which OneUnited Bank committed $1 million to help change the lives of residents living in OneUnited Bank’s Miami branch “backyard” community and help build long term, generational wealth through homeownership; and the annual “I Got Bank” Financial Literacy Youth Essay Contest inspired by the book “I Got Bank! What My Grandad Taught Me about Money,” written by Williams, about three youths winning $1,000 savings accounts. Ms. Williams continues to commit to broad-based community programs to empower others to prosper economically.
“I’m honored to have been recognized by the Boston Area Church League for my work, as I seek to support communities like the ones I grew up in,” said Williams. “Financial literacy and economic empowerment are so important today in minority and low-to-moderate income communities.”
The Community Fellowship Luncheon’s keynote speaker was Governor Charlie Baker of Massachusetts. The following honorees also received the award along with Williams: Boston Police Commissioner William Evans, General Manager Hilton Boston Back Bay Dominique Marty and Chairman of the Boston Red Sox Thomas Werner.
