Civil rights advocate Reverend Al Sharpton, at left, was in Cincinnati Jan. 15 to swear in founding board members for the newly formed Greater Cincinnati Chapter of the National Action Network, including Founding Board President Bishop Bobby Hilton, at right. Reverend Al Sharpton, nationally known and recognized Civil Rights advocate and President of the National Action Network, led the swearing in ceremony for the newly formed local chapter of the National Action Network.

In his opening remarks on Saturday, Jan. 5, Sharpton shared that the focus of the National Action Network is to build an infrastructure for change. “All real change in this country has been driven by activism,’’ he said. “Although there has been progress, we have not yet arrived to a state of equality.’’

Sharpton spoke about the critical role in politics that the state of Ohio plays. He stated he was confident that under the strong and dynamic leadership of the Chapter’s President Bishop Bobby Hilton the Greater Cincinnati Chapter of the National Action Network would be key to change in the greater Cincinnati area.

Hilton said the organization’s mission “will be to look into everything that is not fair or not being done correctly and make sure things are done fairly for all people. The key to change is action.’’

The meeting also served to kick-off a membership rally for the chapter.

The chapter meets the second Saturday of each month at the Word Family Life Center at 693 Fresno Road in Forest Park.