Voices Against Indifference Initiative
The Harry Wu Project
January - February 2000
First Annual Echo Award Dinner
The Echo Award honors a member of the Mecklenburg County community who works with an eye toward peace, a heart filled with compassion and a voice against indifference, in order to remind our community of its highest ideals.
This year's recipient was Bank of America executive Joe Martin. His compassionate action for the rights and dignity of all people has earned him a special place in the heart of the Charlotte community. His initiation of "Race Day," which encouraged people of different races to go to lunch together, his eloquent lobbying for a public library plan for the disabled and his heartfelt plea for a halt to the divisive discourse surrounding arts funding issues, demonstrate Martin’s continuing quest for building community through peaceful action and dialogue. Though physically challenged because of Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS), Martin continues to serve as special counsel to Bank of America and speak for equality and justice in our community
Dinner Sponsors:
Time Warner Cable
Bank of America
BF Goodrich
Lee Morgan, Inc.
Johnson C. Smith University
Robert and Cyndee Patterson
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Guest Speaker: Harry Wu
Award Recipient: Joe Martin
Presented by: Hugh McColl