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MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Author, and mother of NBA star Shaquille O’Neal, Lucille O’Neal visited Memphis Saturday.

She was the keynote speaker for Hope Work’s ‘7th Annual Morning of Hope Breakfast.’

The event was aimed at inspiring others to believe in Memphis.

O’Neal talked to the staff of Hope Works, graduates and current students abou overcoming challenges in her life, including poverty, rejection and abuse.

The Memphis-based nonprofit uses outreach programs to help encourage personal responsibility, individual worth and promotes the value of work.