Friends of Bryant

Elder Bernice King Brings the Word of a New Day at Ebenezer Church

I was honored this morning to join my friend Elder Bernice King at Ebenezer Church, as she spoke on "A New World" in Christ, waiting to be born. As she spoke for the first time in 15 years at her childhood church, Ebenezer, home to her late mother and father Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and her mother Coretta Scott King, you could see that THIS person is truly living her truth. It is also obvious that she is a powerful, authentic and inspired agent of God Almighty. "It's not you and me," or "being comfortable," but it's about being an agent for the Lord. This morning, with her brother Martin L. King, III, his wife Arndrea King, and their daughter, her niece, present -- Elder Bernice King brought home a message that may have made many "uncomfortable." a radical Christianity is what she came to preach, and that is the message we all needed to hear. Me too. So proud of you friend. Elder Bernice King, you are living your truth, and in so doing, helping to change our world -- tilting it back towards a spirit, an energy, a culture of "the greater good." In HOPE, and with so much pride, John Hope Bryant

My mentor and friend Quincy Jones speaks on Black Music Month, and giving back

Quincy Jones: Yahoo! Music Black Music Month Interview Part I of IV @ Yahoo! Video

Fellow Young Global Leader and Friend Raju Narisetti Becomes Managing Editor for the Washington Post!

WASHINGTON, D.C.—January 13, 2009—The Washington Post today named Elizabeth Spayd and Raju Narisetti as Managing Editors of The Washington Post. Bothwill report to Executive Editor Marcus W. Brauchli. Ms. Spayd and Mr. Narisetti will share responsibility for The Post’s award-winning journalism, whether in print, online and on mobile devices, and they will lead the integration of The Post’s print and online newsrooms.

Ms. Spayd, who has been editor of washingtonpost.com since 2007, will oversee the gathering, editing and production of news. Her brief will include political, general, business, foreign and metropolitan news, as well as The Post’s news desk and the print newspaper’s day-to-day production.

Glynn Turman: Emmy Award Win Comes During Prime Time

It is like it happened to me, I am so happy. My friend, and amazingly talented actor, family man, humanitarian, philanthropist and community giver Glenn Turman, finally received some of the long awaited credit he deserves after five decades of acting, winning his first Emmy Award!

Glenn is not only immensely talented, he is simply good people.  I actually met Glynn when, during my short and absolutely under-whelming acting career, we worked together on "Twilight Zone."  It was an opportunity for me to work with two legendary actors -- Danny Kaye and Gynn Turman, with me playing the thug that attacked Mr. Kaye as he morned a death in his family.  It was the last appearance by Mr. Kaye on screen.  

Bryant friend and HOPE board member Don McGrath Honored by the President

I am honored to celebrate and recognize my friend and HOPE National Board member, Don McGrath, on receiving "The President's Call to Service Award," presented by the Presidet's Council on Service and Civic Participation.  Mr. McGrath was recognized for his commitment to strengthening our Nation and for making a difference through volunteer service.  Mr. McGrath received a letter from U.S. President George Bush which opened with the following sentence:

Congratulations on receiving the President's Call to Service Award from the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation.  Through service to others, you demonstrate the outstanding character of America and help strengthen our country. 

Don also serves with me on the U.S. President's Advisory Council on Fiancial Literacy.

Congratulations, Mr. McGrath.  We are proud to be associated.  Bravo!

One of my Confidential Assistants, and Friend, Debra Collins Gives Her Second Speech

One of my two assistants at Operation HOPE (my other assistant is Leslie Alessandro) gave her second speech recently which I wanted to recognize her for.  She has come a long way in her life, and I could not be more proud of her. Here she is photographed following her speech with the Mayor of Glendale, John Drayman.

Here is her testimony, in her own words:

"Well, today's event turned out to be a success and I was able to do a pretty good job on speaking.  I wasn't so nervous about speaking to an audience but I worried about the 15 minute allotted time they gave me and how I was going to manage watching the clock as I shifted from before homelessness, to being homeless, to the steps that came after in getting back on my feet.

I asked the Director of PATH Achieve Glendale to flag me when I had 5 minutes left but I didn't need the signal.  It came off fine and all that worry was for nothing.

A reporter for the Glendale News pulled me aside and gave me a one-on-one interview.  He said that it will be in the paper on Monday so if you get the LOS ANGELES TIMES, look for the Glendale News section inside and let's see what he had to say about the event.  I'm sure he will talk about PATH Achieve Glendale, and Pacific BMW for donating a brand new car for the raffle to raise money for PATH Achieve, and the appearance of the mayor.  Maybe I'll even be in there, who knows? It was a lot of fun and I hope that I have the opportunity to do more of them."

Signed, the geat Debra Collins (that was was from me - smile)

Debra Collins is an inspiration to us all.

John Hope Bryant

Blait Taylor Takes A Lead For Our Youth in Los Angeles

Special commendations to my friend Blair Taylor, president and CEO of the Los Angeles Urban League, who has undertaken a major initiative to empower our black and brown youth with leadership skills, mentors and skills for the future. The details of his plan will be rolled out soon, and Operation HOPE will be supporting him in this, but the essence of Blair's passion can be seen in the following quote from him:

"The biggest correlating factor of whether a kid goes to college or not is not wealth or race, but parents. It is whether someone in their household, typically parents, went to college."

I agree with Blair 100%. Check out my newest piece on Financial Literacy, Silver Rights and the Drop Out Generation in my Operation HOPE hosted Silver Rights Digest.

Onward with HOPE'

John Hope Bryant

MR. AND MRS. MCGRATH AND MR. AND MRS. BRYANT HANG OUT IN SAN FRANCISCO

Recently my sweetie and I hung out with two incredibly sweet, special and very cool individuals -- Mr. Don and Mrs. Patti McGrath of Oakland, California. Don McGrath is the chairman and chief executive officer of Bank of the West, one of the largest financial institutions in the U.S., a friend of mine, and a new member of the Operation HOPE executive board.

Honored to be associated.

Onward with HOPE

John Hope Bryant

Saraylı young civil society leader of 2006

Murat Saraylı has been selected the “Young Civil Society Leader of 2006” by the Association of Young Leaders in an internet survey in which 15,000 participants voted.

Sarayli is currently the president of TÜGİAD for the second term and the president of European Confederation of Young Entrepreneurs (YES) for the third term. He had previously been selected as one of the World Young Leaders by the Global Leaders Forum in 2006.     “The Young Leaders of the Year 2006” were selected by the Association of Young Leaders in different fields of activity as successful examples for the next generations.

Hanging Out at the Clinton Global Initiatives Meeting

Here is our dear friend Trooper Sanders and my sweetie, Mrs. Sheila Kennedy Bryant, hanging out at the recent inaugural meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative in New York City. This particular event was the formal dinner for delegates, where Tony Bennett performed, and President Clinton successfully auctioned off a painting, done by Tony Bennett himself, for $150,000! Wow.... I would say about $120,000 of that was due to the persuasive powers of Mr. Clinton. But it was all good, because proceeds went to a good cause - the Katrina victims. Trooper is the domestic policy advisor for former President Clinton, and our friend. He is also brilliant. Trooper served as the founding director for Operation HOPE's HOPE Coalition America, now a partner with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security/FEMA, and was the former domestic policy advisor for then Vice President Al Gore. Trooper is bi-partisan in his approach to problem solving, focusing his energies not on partisan politics but what "can get done that helps real people." Clinton is lucky to have Trooper on his team. I told the President that "Trooper did not walk on water, but he knows where the stones are!" The President liked the phrase so much he said he was going to borrow it himself (smile).

Bravo Trooper. We are proud of you friend. Onward, with HOPE

Bravo to the Blake family....

Last night me and my sweetie had the distinct pleasure of joining more than 1,000 people, from Los Angeles and around the country, in honoring one of our own, Bishop Charles E. Blake, and his lovely and charming wife, Mrs. Mae "she can dress" Blake (okay, that last editorial was my own), along with their three devoted children, Kimberly, Lawrence and Charles. It was a magical evening, honoring a man, on a mission (serving others), of substance.

The evening of honors marked the 20th year of dedicated service by Bishop Blake for the First Jurisdiction of Southern California (covering more than 250 churches) for the Church of God in Christ.  Possibly Bishop and Mae Blake's greatest legacy yet is before them, ...in their work in Africa.

Through the Pan African Children's Fund they created Save Africa's Children, an organization that provides financial and material needs to organizations helping children in Africa, by working to raise public awareness of HIV/AIDS in Africa. Under Bishop Blake's leadership the organization has helped more than 30,000 children and 180 orphanages on the African continent.

Bravo Bishop and Mae Blake, bravo....

Onward, with HOPE,

Celebrating the Birth of the Doffinator...

One person really can make a difference in the world. Rachael Doff proves that....in spades!

On Monday, March 7th, 2005, the Operation HOPE family and the Doff family celebrated the birth of one special lady -- someone I and we lovingly refer to as "the Doffinator!" ...Because she GETS THE JOB DONE!! Whatever it is.

Rachael Doff is the gentle and kind friend to most anyone genuinely in need; always there with a lovingly ear, hand and heart.

Rachael Doff is also Mrs. Rachael Doff, the loving wife to an incredibly supportive husband, in the name of one Charlie Doff.

Rachael Doff is also "mommy Doff," ...okay, just mommy..., to three energetic, bright, inspired and well loved children.

Rachael Doff is the "Doffinator" for Operation HOPE, inasmuch as I and we can always count on her to "make it happen," ...no matter how difficult the challenge at hand.

I have never seen Rachael Doff defeated by anything, or depleted by anyone, for long. She has a discipline, a sense of laser like focus on outcomes, a keen innate intelligence, and a love for excellence in all things like I have seldom seen in one person.

Rachael Doff is God's child, and as such, is virtually without personal ego.

It is an amazing and humbling quality to witness in another person - consistently. An incredibly strong inner will, and an equally strong sense of self, but devoid of ego. And this apparent lack of personal ego is not because she doesn't value self, but precisely because she knows what real value of and in ones self, really is! A poet once said, "there is no limit to the amount than one can accomplish in this life, when one is totally unconcerned with who gets the credit." Well ladies and gentleman, THAT is Rachael Doff.

Rachael Doff is a survivor, with a thriver's heart.  People who really know her, know that she went through more as a child, than most people go through in an entire lifetime -- but she is still here. Standing strong in spirit, always open to learning and growing, always open to people, and always open to love. Mostly, the giving sort of love. Unconditionally, too.

But most of all....Rachael Doff is my friend. Family. Operation HOPE family. ...My family. She was the first employee of Operation HOPE in 1992, and to this day she is the last person to leave the office on an average work day evening.  From the day I met her, she has extended her time, attention, love, care and intellect to my vision, mission and purpose for Operation HOPE -- and now our movement too; the "Silver Rights Movement."

Rachael has helped me, and been there for me, and my family, including my wife Sheila Kennedy Bryant, more times that I can remember.

Always with a smile, an open hand and a loving heart.  Never a complaint. Not a one. 13 years and counting. ...Amazing.

And so dearest Rachael, I join all those who love and care for you, and will always be there for you, as you have been there for them, ....as I say "thank you," just for being you. And oh, "Happy Birthday."

Wishing you a world filled with HOPE (and yes, I did paint this personally!)  

A Child Progidy Grows Up to be a Classy Young Lady...

Alex and me "hanging out," at the Four Seasons Hotel at Beverly Hills just recently.

Alexandra Nechita --

The world knows her as the world renown "child progidy," the "next Picasso," or simply one of the most gifted artists to come along in this century or last. I know her simply as Alex, my dear friend, and one of God's special angels, right here on earth.

Alex and I met a few years ago, along with her brother, also an artist, Maxamilian, along with her loving mother Viorica, and father Niki. It was love at first sight - spirit to spirit. Fast friends, and connected ever since. Since then I have tried to support her work and movement, and she has supported mine through a collaboration with Operation HOPE. No doubt, ..we need to do more together in 2005, and we will. 

When I met Alex she was a teenager. A teenager with a purpose, but a teenager nonetheless. Today Alex is a growing and maturing young lady, attending college at UCLA here in Southern California.  Our most recent conversations have been wonderful because they are deeper -- much deeper than ever before -- and reveal a powerful, wise and "connected" spirit, hungry to grow and to develop. No, there is nothing average about Alex, and as I told her just recently, I am convinced that she has not even begun to live her truth in the world. God has plans for Alexandra Nechita... I will be there with and for her, every step of the way!

Alexandra Nechita was born in Romania in 1985. She began drawing at the age of two. At seven, Alexandra was painting with oils and acrylics, and her first exhibit was a one-woman (child) show held at a Los Angeles public library when she was just eight years old.

Alexandra's talent was instantly recognized as capacity crowds came to see her amazing and often monumental paintings. After seeing her art, the press labeled her "The Petite Picasso." She attracted the attention of art critics and the media who began telling the world about this rarest of child prodigies - an artist who had mastered drawing and color, an artist who had created a visual language of her own, in a unique, lyrical, figurative, abstract cubist manner, an artist who had only recently turned nine years old.

By age ten, Alexandra was producing strikingly accomplished canvases, which were easily compared to the work of talented, fully mature artists. Her works have a developed artistic personality, highly sophisticated and fully alive to the nuances and possibilities of her medium.

In November of 1999, Alexandra was selected by the World Federation of United Nations to lead a Global Arts Initiative involving more than 100 Nations. Alexandra will touch millions of lives worldwide through her artwork and will be recognized as a global influence through the spirit of the arts in the 21st Century.

Alex is one of my young sheroes -- and a 21st century ambassador for peace in and for our world! Look out world, here she comes...

Onward, with HOPE.