John Hope Bryant

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and Urban Entrepreneur Russell Simmons Featured in Hip Hop Weekly around HOPE Global Financial Dignity Summit 2012

For probably the first time in history, US Federal Reserve Ben Bernanke, and honorary "Hip Hop Chairman" Russell Simmons, were featured together in an important and noteworthy article -- and in Hip Hop Weekly no less!  

This is impressive, and suggests that there exists very real promise for the "silver rights" movement to find wings and take flight in this post global economic crisis environment.  Helping millions in the midst of it all.

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.

 

 

 

Open Letter from the Founder: HOPE Global Financial Dignity Summit, 2012

Dear Friends of HOPE,

As we conclude the year of our 20th anniversary, I’m honored to share with you some recent highlights for the organization.

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, civil rights icon Ambassador Andrew Young, 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.

I recently co-authored a special Op-Ed on the future of housing finance with Robert Gnaizda for the American Banker entitled “How to End the Homeownership Crisis”.  Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke's remarks from our 2012 Global Financial Dignity Summit on November 15th, we believe, aligns well with many of the values articulated by Mr. Gnaizda and myself.  

Lastly, as you know, Operation HOPE is dedicated to the financial preparedness, dignity and inclusion of all Americans.  Right now hundreds of thousands of our families, friends and neighbors’ lives have been devastated by Hurricane Sandy.  Once again, through HOPE’s emergency financial and economic preparedness, response and recovery disaster division - HOPE Coalition America (HCA) - the only financial emergency preparedness and recovery service in the country and proud national partner with FEMA, U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and Citizen Corps, is responding by offering help to individuals and small businesses whose lives have been turned upside-down. 

If you know someone that needs our services, please visit our website  www.operationhope.org  to locate an office or service offering near them.

We look forward to 2013, and thank you again for all that you do. 

Lets go…

With HOPE,

 

John Hope Bryant

 

 

Let's Give Dignity A Chance, By YGL Lutfey Siddiqi

04:45 AM Dec 07, 2012

Global Financial what summit? 

This was the most oft-repeated reaction to an event last month in Atlanta, Georgia - the Global Financial Dignity Summit. 

Hosted by two larger-than-life personalities straddling two generations, philanthropic entrepreneur John Hope Bryant and civil rights icon Mr Andrew Young, this conference headlined by United States Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke proved to be an innovative and impactful gathering of business, social and political stakeholders focused on economic development.

Together with Professor Pekka Himanen from Finland and Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, Mr Bryant founded the Global Dignity movement in 2006. 

This movement is based on the premise that every human being has the right to lead a dignified life and as a corollary, the right to access resources to fulfil one's potential. 

Specially designed "dignity sessions" are held in underprivileged schools to affirm self-worth and confidence not only in the way that individuals carry themselves, but also in the way that they relate to each other, often in the presence of conflict. The Global Financial Dignity Summit sought to apply this overarching framework to our current economic challenge - hence the unusual title.

Unlike the top-down macro-approach of targeting aggregate variables such as GDP, inflation, money supply and payrolls, this bottom-up micro-approach seeks to address issues of financial literacy, access to lending, skills and community development - all of which are arguably as impactful in securing national economic outcomes.

Canada Reports on Global Summit: Bernanke says overly tightly lending standards are slowing housing recovery and US economy

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke offers the keynote speech at the Operation HOPE Global Financial Dignity Summit Thursday, Nov. 15, 2012, in Atlanta. Bernanke said Thursday that banks' overly tight lending standards may be holding back the U.S. economy by preventing creditworthy borrowers from buying homes. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

WASHINGTON - Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said Thursday that banks' overly tight lending standards may be holding back the U.S. economy by preventing creditworthy borrowers from buying homes.

Some tightening of credit standards was needed after the 2008 financial crisis, but "the pendulum has swung too far the other way." Bernanke said. Qualified borrowers are being prevented from getting home loans, he said during a speech to the Operation HOPE Global Financial Dignity Summit in Atlanta.

Operation HOPE is a non-profit organization that provides free economic education and financial counselling to lower- and middle-income Americans.

Read the complete Associated Press article here.

 

From the Saudi Gazette: Financial literacy key to economic development

JEDDAH — Following the global financial crisis, financial literacy is playing a critical role in economic recovery and development, industry experts said in unison at the recently held “Hope Global Financial Dignity Summit” in Atlanta, Georgia, attended by delegates from more than 50 countries.

SEDCO Capital CEO Hasan Al Jabri, one of the key speakers at the event, said “following the global financial crisis, the role of private sector organizations as innovators of corporate social responsibility programs has become increasingly important. This is certainly the case at SEDCO where we recently launched our strategically aligned CSR program “Riyali” focusing on financial literacy and that we developed in consultation with Operation HOPE, a global social empowerment nonprofit organization and the organizer of the Global Financial Dignity Summit.”

SEDCO’s Riyali program addresses the need to educate the Saudi population on financial literacy and empower them with personal finance skills required to achieve a desirable standard of living. The first phase, targeting college students, was launched in September this year. He said the role of private sector organizations as innovators of corporate social responsibility programs has become increasingly important. This is certainly the case at SEDCO where we recently launched our strategically aligned CSR program “Riyali” focusing on financial literacy and that we developed in consultation with Operation HOPE, a global social empowerment nonprofit organization and the organizer of the Global Financial Dignity Summit.”

SEDCO Holding VP of Corporate Communications and Marketing Amr Banaja, who headed one of the working groups, spoke on the subject of Leadership: The Future Role of Philanthropy and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). 

Read the complete article here.

 

 

From the International Business Times: Fed Chair Bernanke, Ambassador Andrew Young, Russell Simmons, Global Leaders Join Operation HOPE for Historic Summit in Atlanta

Two-Day Financial Dignity Summit Focused on Community, Character and Responsible Capitalism

ATLANTA, Nov. 19, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Leaders from around the globe gathered inAtlanta last week for Operation HOPE's Global Financial Dignity Summit to discuss financial dignity and literacy issues and find solutions for the economic problems faced by underserved communities around the world. The Summit, which was held November 14-15, included a community bus tour, the grand opening of HOPE Financial Dignity Center at Ebenezer, and a Global Dignity Forum.  

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121119/DC16216)

The Summit's theme of Community, Character and Responsible Capitalism offered a variety of programming suited for seeking a better understanding of financial literacy and dignity solutions. The first day of the Summit, Nov. 14, began with a community bus tour showcasing Atlanta's economic transformation. Atlanta's business, government, and faith leaders were joined by Summit participants as they traveled through diverse neighborhoods. Areas of opportunity in the city were highlighted for their potential economic growth.

Read the complete article here.

 

Operation HOPE and HOPE Financial Dignity Center Atlanta at Ebenezer Featured by NBC 11 Alive News

 

A special thank you to NBC, 11 Alive News and 11 Alive Anchor DeMarco Morgan for producing this profile for Operation HOPE, the HOPE Global Financial Dignity Summit, and the new HOPE Financial Dignity Center Atlanta at Ebenezer.

 

 

From Bloomberg Businessweek: Bernanke Says Fed to Do What It Can to Aid Housing, at HOPE Global Summit

 

 

Watch the full length video that ran live on Bloomberg Businessweek surrounding U.S.Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke's speech at the HOPE Global Financial Dignity Summit here.

Nov. 15 (Bloomberg) -- Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke speaks about the U.S. housing market, economy and central bank monetary policy. Bernanke, speaking in Atlanta, says the Fed will use its policy tools to speed economic growth and a recovery in housing. (Source: Bloomberg)

Soon you will be able to view all videos at the HOPE Global Financial Dignity Summit website here.

From NewsMax: Operation HOPE's Bryant: Role of Government Is About Striking a Balance

The role of government in the private sector is all about balance, says John Hope Bryant, chairman of Operation Hope, which works for financial literacy and economic empowerment.


“Where would be without the subway system in New York City? I mean would free enterprise flow if there wasn’t a subway system? And, if it wasn’t for the government, who could put the subway system on their balance sheet? What about police? What about roads and gutters? What about street cleaners? What about all of the public services we take for granted,” Bryant tells Newsmax TV's John Bachman.

It’s all about balance, Bryant says.

“Things like Hurricane Sandy and Hurricane Katrina remind us that we do need some role of government in our lives, that we can’t do it all by ourselves.” 

Watch the exclusive video interview here.

As for the poor, a good way to lift them up is by working with the young, he says. A Gallup poll found that 91 percent of all youngsters aren’t afraid to take risk. And 77 percent want to have their own business. 
 

Read the full NewsMax article with John Hope Bryant and the HOPE Global Financial Dignty Summit here http://www.newsmax.com/US/operation-hope-bryant-government/2012/11/15/id/464319#ixzz2CacD3lUI