John Hope Bryant

Solving Poverty: This Generation Needs An Economic Backup Plan

I recently met a very impressive young man while visiting with my father, Mr. Johnnie Will Smith, in Los Angeles, California.  This young man, who lived next door and is the son of one who helps to care for my proud and still self-powered father of 88 years young, possessed incredible vocal, musical, and even writing and producing talent.   In other words, he could not only sing and dance, he could 'think,' analyze and strategize too. The only problem with this young man's life success plan, as I shared with him, was that his primary dream plan did not have a practical backup plan.  And worse from my perspective, his backup plan, should really be his primary plan instead.  Let me explain.

Responsible rap (meaning rap that is true to its origins and roots), Hip-Hop, the broad world of celebrity, and our varied professional sports, are so very important to cultivate and carry forward as part of the larger African-American and minority success story framework for a race.  As Quincy Jones repeatedly burns into my soul and pounds into my thick head, "music, art and culture shapes the soul, helps to heal and bring together our world. They help to shape more well rounded people."  I agree with Q 100%.  

That said, having a career in music, the arts, entertainment (in front of the camera) and sports as the primary life success solution for more than 30 million African-Americans alone in this country, is just plain dumb.  Sure, a few lucky ones will make it through, but I would argue that most of them are not in fact all that 'lucky,' at the end of their career-day. A couple facts.

70% of all professional football players file bankruptcy within 5-years of retirement from the game, and there is a 100% injury rate amongst professional football players.

70% plus of all professional basketball players file bankruptcy within 5-years of retirement from the game.

And a vast majority of the "celebrity" artists, from rap to Hip-Hop and beyond, find themselves dead broke after a short, and often even highly visible career.  

Hip Hope Legend Russell Simmons and John Hope Bryant Close Out "Conversation on What Comes Next" During HOPE Global Financial Dignity Summit 2012

The HOPE Global Financial Dignity Summit on November 14-15, 2012, in the city of Atlanta was a resounding success. The insights, passion and active engagement of the more than 1,500 delegates, 100 speakers and coverage from over 50 media outlets worldwide over the 2-day summit, truly made it a historic event.

The Summit, themed Community, Character and (Responsible) Capitalism included the substantive participation of U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, Steve Bartlett, Chief Executive Officer of the Financial Services Roundtable (1999-2012), Bill Rogers, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of SunTrust Banks, Inc., Michael Arougheti, President of Ares Capital Management, Don Graves, Executive Director of the U.S. President's Council on Jobs and Competitiveness at the White House, Gallup Chairman and CEO, Jim Clifton, Dr. Bernice A. King and Hip Hop Mogul Russell Simmons. On November 14th we celebrated the grand opening of the HOPE Financial Dignity Center, Atlanta at Ebenezer and hosted the Global Dignity Forum, which featured HRH Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, Professor Pekka Himanen of Finland, Dr. Bernice A. King, Benjamin Jealous, President and CEO of the NAACP and civil rights legend CT Vivian. 

 

John Hope Bryant is a thought leader, founder, chairman and CEO of Operation HOPE and Bryant Group Companies, Inc. Magazine/CEO READ bestselling business author of LOVE LEADERSHIP: The New Way to Lead in a Fear-Based World (Jossey-Bass), the only African-American bestselling business author in America, and is chairman of the Subcommittee for the Under-Served and Community Empowerment for the U.S. President’s Advisory Council on Financial Capability, for President Barack Obama.  Mr. Bryant is the co-founder of the Gallup-HOPE Index, the only national research poll on youth financial dignity and youth economic energy in the U.S. He is also a co-founder of Global Dignity with HRH Crown Prince Haakon of Norway and Professor Pekka Himanen of Finland. Global Dignity is affiliated with the Forum of Young Global Leaders and the World Economic Forum.  Mr. Bryant is a though leader represented by the Bright Sight Group for public speaking. Mr. Bryant serves on the board of directors of Ares Commercial Real Estate Corporation, an NYSE Euronext publicly traded company, and a division of $54 billion Ares Capital.

 

HOPE Global Financial Dignity Summit, 2012, Featuring Dr. Bernice King

 

Dr. Bernice A. King provides keynote remarks at the closing session of the HOPE Global Financial Dignity Summit on November 15, 2012, with an introduction by HOPE Founder, Chairman and CEO John Hope Bryant.  She is brilliant.

 

 

 

Public Invited to Meet Actor Brian White at HOPE Community Block Party TOMORROW in Atlanta, Georgia

Russell Simmons Helps "Smart Cool Again" at the HOPE Global Financial Dignity Summit

It is important to have the likes of Russell Simmons, and other celebrities and entrepreneurs in entertainment with us, such as accomplished actor Brian White, former NBA star Dikembe Mutombo and others, because this is the only way we are going to engage the interest and magical imagination of our youth and young generation in a new movement about BUSINESS.  These young people must begin to see these men as not just entertainers and sports figures, but accomplished BUSINESSMEN too.  

The HOPE Global Financial Dignity Summit 2012 will help to reframe this lens, and set the stage for a new silver rights movement, for all.

A special thank you to Hip Hop Mogul Russell Simmons, actor Brian White, NBA Dikembe Mutombo and media personality Jeff Johnson, amongst others, for helping to bring forth the 'relevancy' of financial literacy and financial dignity empowerment, to and for a new generation that desperately needs it.

Find out more about the global summit and the involvement of your favorite celebrities here.

Okay, let's go.

John Hope Bryant is a thought leader, founder, chairman and CEO of Operation HOPE and Bryant Group Companies, Inc. Magazine/CEO READ bestselling business author of LOVE LEADERSHIP: The New Way to Lead in a Fear-Based World (Jossey-Bass), the only African-American bestselling business author in America, and is chairman of the Subcommittee for the Under-Served and Community Empowerment for the U.S. President’s Advisory Council on Financial Capability, for President Barack Obama.  Mr. Bryant is the co-founder of the Gallup-HOPE Index, the only national research poll on youth financial dignity and youth economic energy in the U.S. He is also a co-founder of Global Dignity with HRH Crown Prince Haakon of Norway and Professor Pekka Himanen of Finland. Global Dignity is affiliated with the Forum of Young Global Leaders and the World Economic Forum.   Mr. Bryant serves on the board of directors of Ares Commercial Real Estate Corporation, an NYSE Euronext publicly traded company, and a division of $54 billion Ares Capital.

Russell Simmons to Lend His Voice to the HOPE Global Financial Dignity Summit

Hip Hop mogul to join financial dignity nonprofit’s 20^th Anniversary activities

Los Angeles – October 9, 2012 – “Silver rights” leader Operation HOPE (HOPE) today announced that Hip Hop mogul, and humanitarian Russell Simmons has joined the HOPE Global Financial Dignity Summit (HGFDS) as a Featured Speaker. Simmons will lend his perspective for creating opportunity and an entrepreneurial approach to both business and philanthropy at the 2-day summit in Atlanta. 

Simmons known for creating a Hip Hop empire was recently named one of “Hollywood’s Most Influential Celebrities” by Forbes magazine. USA Today named Russell Simmons one of the “Top 25 Most Influential People of the Past 25 Years,” calling him a “hip-hop pioneer” for his groundbreaking vision that has influenced music, fashion, finance, the jewelry industry, television and film, as well as the face of modern philanthropy.

John Hope Bryant Featured in a Historic Apple Video with Steve Jobs

 

Okay, before I turn everyone over to watch and see this amazing yet little known 1984 visionary production by Apple, staring Steve Jobs, I will let you in on a little secret -- I am in it as an actor, from long, long ago.  

After I discovered the power of entrepreneurship at age 10, but before I discovered service leadership with the founding of Operation HOPE at at 26, I was an actor during most of my teenage years.  That's probably where I learned the power and effectiveness of communication. That said, I was not an incredibly good actor, but I was good enough to have a couple recurring roles in mediocre shows, a good number of bit and extra roles in big shows, and an occasional starring role in shows you probably have never heard about -- before or sense (smile).  

I did so much over this period that I literally have forgotten about many of my appearances. And that includes this very special Apple production. 

Now, for those who remain courious about my ho-hum acting career, here is a bit more; one appearance I remember well, and that you can find easily on the Internet today if interested, is a co-lead role (playing a bad guy) in Twilight Zone with my friend Glynn Turman, and the late, great Danny Kaye.

Twilight Zone use to be my favorite memory from that era of my life, but now I have a new favorite from the gallery of all that I had forgotten.  Thanks to Sherry John from Operation HOPE's Communications Group, the Apple piece was somehow found and brought to my attention.

I literally could not recall doing it, but once you look at the black dude on the screen -- trying hard to be 'hard' (smile again) -- you will come to the same conclusion that I did.  Wow....that's me!  

As Steve Jobs is one of the American entrepreneurs I admire most with respect to "changing everything," and Apple is a company I continue to admire as one of the best in the world, period, I am really honored today to have done this then.  And when I speak on the subject of leadership, what change takes, and "re-inventing and re-imaginging everything," I often read the Apple Ad called "The Crazy Ones."  This poem in many ways defines how I see the world, and 'the how' of all that we seek to accomplish with and through Operation HOPE, today.  All of this, without ever knowing or realizing that I actually played a pretty cool role in an amazing slice of the Apple history.

Postscript note: for all those who think that all acting is just glamorous and well paid, you will note here that this entire film-advertisement probably cost no more than $50,000.00 to make. That's $50,000.00 for everything; me included (smile).  

That's okay though, because this shared memory with Steve Jobs is PRICELESS.  Enjoy, and of course let me know what you think.

Here you go...

Grammy-award winner Quincy Jones on financial dignity, the "civil rights issue of our generation"

His mission to bring hope and dignity to young people and their parents--through practical economic education.

Is there a tipping point for justice? Yes, according to John Hope Bryant, founder, chairman and CEO, of Operation HOPE, a not-for-profit organization focused on expanding economic opportunity in underserved communities through economic education and empowerment.

“The goal of 5MK is to reach, teach and touch five million kids in five years about the importance of understanding the language of money, entrepreneurship and the importance of education.”-Quincy Jones

Citing Malcolm Gladwell’s book Tipping Point, Bryant notes that “when five percent of citizens are [economically] positively and actively engaged a community becomes stabilized.” The end result is financial dignity, which Bryant calls “the civil rights issue of our generation.” He says, “There are almost no role models in ‘low-wealth’ communities.”

Reaching five million children

Operation HOPE’s Five Million Kids (5MK) Initiative is focused on creating a mainstream financial literacy movement in America by leveraging current trends on behalf of kids and their parents. “Our kids are brilliant, but their lives have been hijacked by a culture that celebrates celebrities and sports and equates being dumb with being cool. We need to flip that on its head,” Bryant says.

That’s where Grammy-award winner Quincy Jones comes in. Mr. Jones and the civil rights icon Ambassador Andrew Young are the National Co- Chairs of 5MK.

Bryant explains, “Quincy Jones is one of the few global brands who is relevant to every generation whether you like Kanye West, Jay-Z, or Dizzy Gillespie.”

Quincy Jones says, “The goal of 5MK is to reach, teach and touch five million kids in five years about the importance of understanding the language of money, entrepreneurship and the importance of education.”

Making capitalism work for everyone

Read the complete article here.

 

 

Historic Images: Morning of the HOPE 20th Anniversary Opportunity Bus Tour, 2012

 

When pictures tell the entire story.

Distinguished co-chairs included Peter Ueberroth, then chairman of Rebuild Los Angeles; Los Angeles Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa; AEG Worldwide CEO Tim Leiweke, civil rights icon Ambassador Andrew Young who had visited the same community with his friend Dr. Martin Luther King; Jr. following the Watts Riots; entertainment icon and entrepreneur Quincy Jones, who unveiled a powerful “answer” to and for the youth of the future on this day in April, 2012; along with COGIC Presiding Bishop Charles E. Blake who built a $60 million cathedral in the months following the unrest; and Reverend Dr. Cecil “Chip” Murray who is single-handedly credited with bringing peace to South Los Angeles in the days following the unrest.

Quincy Jones Elementary School to Receive First Copy of Operation HOPE Banking on Our Future, Quincy Jones Celebrity Edition

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa will join Operation HOPE Founder, Chairman and CEO John Hope Bryant and Entertainment Icon and multi Grammy Award winner Quincy Jones to unveil the Banking on Our Future, Quincy Jones Celebrity Edition on April 24, during the 20th Anniversary HOPE Opportunity Bus Tour.

Read the complete and exciting article here.