John Hope Bryant : Current Affairs

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.

Ribbon cutting event hosted by Operation HOPE Founder, Chairman and CEO
John Hope Bryant, HOPE Global Spokesman Ambassador Andrew Young,
HOPE Special Advisor Martin Luther King III, and HOPE Southeastern Board Member and Atlanta City Councilman Kwanza Hall

(ATLANTA) -- August 2, 2010 -- Los Angeles-based nonprofit Operation HOPE (HOPE), the economic empowerment organization that has successfully educated, served and empowered more than 1.2 million Americans in the area of financial literacy and raised, funded and restructured more than $800 million in economic value for the underserved hosted a grand opening at their Atlanta regional office on July 29, 2010.

The open house celebrated the official opening of HOPE's regional office in Atlanta, which will house several regional staff, including HOPE Chairman John Hope Bryant. Along with the open house reception and ribbon cutting ceremonies at the new Peachtree Street offices, HOPE launched two hotlines focused on helping those needing economic counseling. The Mortgage HOPE Crisis Hotline and the HOPE Consumer Credit Crisis Hotlines are a part of Operation HOPE's commitment to support residents of Georgia and the Southeast Region.

Continue reading "Operation HOPE Officially Opens Atlanta Regional Office and Launches Mortgage and Consumer Credit Crisis Hotlines to Georgia and the Southeast Region" »

Washington, D.C.—July 27, 2010—Today, Steve Bartlett, President and CEO for the Financial Services Roundtable, and John Hope Bryant, Founder, Chairman and CEO for Operation HOPE met with U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka (pictured above) and key lawmaker’s to discuss efforts around financial literacy.

“If at any time in history it should be apparent to all in America and around the world that financial literacy is the new civil rights issue, and the first silver rights empowerment tool, it is in the backdrop of this global economic crisis,” said Operation HOPE Founder, Chairman and CEO John Hope Bryant. “When we live in a free enterprise system, but most people truly do not understand free enterprise nor the language of money, not only is sustainable overall economic growth at risk, but you and I truly are not free.”

“A healthy economy depends on a well-educated consumer,” said Steve Bartlett, President and CEO for the Roundtable. “The financial services industry continues to place a high priority on financial literacy, participating in over 26,000 classroom sessions, seminars and other financial education projects in 2009 alone.”

Continue reading "Bartlett and Bryant Meet with Congress to Discuss Financial Literacy" »

July 25, 2010

SPECIAL TO THE HUFFINGTON POST: Why BP Is Toast

I believe that BP is pretty much, well, toast. Does that mean that they are out of business tomorrow? No it does not. They may in fact be operating as an entity called BP for some time to come, and for legal reasons, others that are interested in assets of the company probably would want to purchase the assets and leave the corporate shell alone. That said, they have lost the most precious asset a corporation could ever attain -- the trust, respect and confidence of customers, investors and the body politic. Furter, they have lost the respect and trust of their brand. And such a shame, as even I had begun to buy into their amazing television commercial campaign of late 2009. Too bad the company did not put as much attention into protecting its brand as it did promoting it.

And so, like the shadow following you as you walk down the street, BP may be with us for a while, managing through endless private and government led lawsuits and such, but as a growing global brand the company is effectively a dead man walking.

Read the complete Huffington Post story here.

July 25, 2010 in Blogging for the people, Bryant on the Economy, Culture, Current Affairs, International Agenda, John Hope Bryant Authored, Leadership, Love Leadership Book by Jossey-Bass, Love vs. Fear Based Leadership, Media, Partnership with Community, Something to Think About, Testimony, The Silver Rights Movement | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)