The New York Knicks Legend to Speak in Mount Vernon as Part of the Community Conversation Series to Stop Gun Violence
One of the toughest and most loyal players in NBA history, Charles Oakley comes to Mount Vernon, NY, on Wednesday, March 23, 2022, for Community Together, a free series of conversations with industry leaders and change agents committed to Westchester County’s efforts to stop gun violence.
Friendship Worship Center will host the in-person event that will also be live-streamed. The program begins at 6:30 p.m. Oakley will have an intimate conversation with community members and share excerpts from his newly released memoir, “The Last Enforcer,” which tells of his life experiences from on and off the court. In-person attendees will receive a complimentary copy of Oakley’s book.
Oakley played in the NBA from 1985 to 2004 with the Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks, Toronto Raptors, Washington Wizards, and the Houston Rockets. He ranks as one of the best rebounders in the NBA. The former NY Knicks Power Foward currently ranks 25th all-time in NBA games played with 1,282 games, and 22nd all-time in career rebounds with 12,205 rebounds. Due to his durability, he actually placed in the top ten in total rebounds 6 times and led the league in total rebounds twice (1987 and 1988). In 1994, he became an NBA All-Star and was chosen to the league’s All-Defense 1st team.
After years of clearing boards, Charles Oakley took to buffing cars when he opened Oakley’s Car Wash on 2435 Central Park Ave in Yonkers in 1995. Three years later, the former NBA player christened another car wash on Neptune Avenue in Brooklyn.
Community Together is a collective effort by United Way of Westchester and Putnam, Boys & Girls Club of Mount Vernon, Mount Vernon Youth Bureau, and Friendship Worship Center to reduce the violence surge in the communities by educating and encouraging youth to make positive choices. The goal is to promote healthy emotional expression and conflict resolution. In February, CNN political correspondent and civil rights attorney Bakari Sellers kicked off the series with “Youth Together with Bakari Sellers: Time for Real Talk.”
Friendship Worship Church is located at 261 E Lincoln Ave, Mount Vernon, NY. Community Together with Charles Oakley is free; however, registration is required online at uwwp.org/oakley.
