John Hope Bryant : The Bryant Family and the Powell Family Come Together for our Children's Future

John Hope Bryant Mission Statement

"There is a difference between broke and being poor. Being broke is a temporary economic condition, but being poor is a disabling frame of mind and a depressed condition of your spirit, and you must vow to never, ever be poor again."
My vision for the poor, the under-served, and the wealthless of the world is to help them see themselves -- differently. We can do this by helping to expose, to educate, to empower, and ultimately to inspire them. To help them become "dreamers, with shovels in their own hands," quoting my friend Dr. Dorothy Height.
To see themselves for what and who they truly already are; rich in spirit. Assets, and not liabilities on the world's global balance sheet.
Because, I have seen, time and again, that given an informed choice, the poor do not want a hand out, but simply a hand up. They want the dignity that comes from doing for self.
That education is the ultimate poverty eradication tool, and when you know better, you tend to do better.
Moving from civil rights to silver rights. From integrating the lunch counter, to integrating the dollar too.
That low-wealth communities, the world over, represent future emerging markets waiting to be born. That one person can make a diference, and we are that one person. That we are all accountable and responsible for the world we live in, because it is literally the world we create. A little hope can make the difference.

November 29, 2008

The Bryant Family and the Powell Family Come Together for our Children's Future

: Marguerite Kondracke, Mr. and Mrs. Powell and Mr. and Mrs. Bryant at dinner

My sweetie, Mrs. Sheila Kennedy Bryant, and I were honored to spend an evening over dinner with Mrs. Alma Powell, chairwoman of the America's Promise Alliance, and General Colin Powell, its spokesman, along with my friend Marguerite Kondracke, president and CEO of theAlliance and a small group of America's Promise Alliance supporters, two weeks ago in Washington, D.C. It was there that I first publicly shared my vision for 5 MILLION KIDS (www.5MK.org).

Within days following this incredible gathering Operation HOPE and America's Promise Alliance agreed ona national partnership to help stem the growing high school dropout epidemic in America. America's Promise is a "best-in-class" non-profit organization, in the world today, and we are glad to be working with them. Of course, I was already a big fan of General Colin Powell, but not I count Mrs. Alma Powell amongst the group of amazing leaders contributing to making America better. Mrs. Powell is the chairperson for America's Promise. Check out their inspiring work here.

Log onto www.5MK.organd check out what we are doing with 5 MILLION KIDS (5MK). Not everything viral is negative. I believe we can start a positive epidemic, and that is my plan over the next 5-years with and through 5MK. Log on, track our progress, and over the holidays sit down with your family and make a 5MK Pledge. Of course, you can also log onto the dedicated 5MK Blog and leave your comments, thoughts and suggestions on what we are up to here, and your recommendations of how we can make it better.

One person can make a difference. Be that one person!

Onward with HOPE

John Hope Bryant

November 29, 2008 in 21st Century Black Agenda, 21st Century Latino Agenda, 5MK, America's Drop-Out Generation, Bi-Partisan Public Policy, Culture, Dignity, Financial Literacy, Friends of HOPE, Heroes and Sheroes, Leadership, Mentoring and Role Models, Partnership with Community, The Silver Rights Movement, Traveling Man | Permalink

Technorati Tags: 5mk, 5mk blog, 5mk pledge, alma powell, america's promise alliance, general colin powell, john hope bryant, marguerite kondracke, operation hope

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