John Hope Bryant

A Mother's Day Tribute, and a Rose, for A Mother-Leader to us All

 

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

On April 27th, 2013, the King Center unveiled the Coretta Scott King commemorative rose, and I was honored and pleasantly surprised to return home from one of my many trips to find two of the beautiful roses at my home.

The roses were a gift from my friend and HOPE board member Dr. Bernice A. King, CEO of the King Center (a post once held by her mother), and destined for a special planting location in my private park here in Atlanta, Georgia. But as I reflected on the Coretta Scott King commemorative Rose, I also began to reflect on the woman.  The woman, as leader, mother, wife, keeper of the King legacy flame.  I decided I had to write something in honor of her, on this special day.

A Teacher-Leader Testimonial on our work from Operation HOPE South Africa

 

 

 

Good Afternoon Mr John Bryant  I do hope that I find you well. I would like to thank you for sparing your time and effort to come and address my learners at Sandtonview Combined School, on Monday the 22rd of April 2013. Your presentation was so inspiring to me as the Educator/Teacher at the school working with the learners everyday and to the learners at large. Its always good to hear from the "best of the best" in entrepreneurship in the world. We as a school were so fortunate and privileged to say the least. According to your stuff members, this was a first in South Africa where a programme was started and we were first to have a one on one conversation with the founding father of the organisation.    I would like extend my sencere gratitude to you once again for giving one of my learners, the opportunity of a lifetime, a paid internship with your organisation on completion/graduation. This has already motivated the youngster to even do better in his school-work and in terms of his behaviour right here at school. All the young business learners are so earger to follow in your footsteps and that of your partner Natasha Foreman. The opportunity that you have given these learners is on that they will never forget in their lifetime. In addition I have also learnt, in my personal capacity as an Educator, various life changing lessons through your presentation. Your use of Twee and George in the selling of drugs and their death brought tears to my eyes. You know why? Its just because I am sitting in this classroom in front of my learners, some of whom are already using these drugs and its painfull as you see them destroying their own lives and what you tell them they do not even listern to you due to a variety of factors. Sir, your example on pregnant school girls, a reality that I see each and every teaching day of my life. I keep hoping that the ones that I have managed to inspire and brought to Operation Hope's Banking On Our Future programme will be inspired as iI did and be able to take their lives into a better future. Alutah continua with "Operation Hope" in South Africa and through-out the world as it is the only vehicle that will drive hunger and under-development from our continent.  May the Almighty protects you from all forms of evil so that one day I will meet you again and relieve to you my own personal life journey that I would have travelled. Regards Ganyiwa Isaac Educator: Sandtonview Combined School, South Africa

 

Related articles

Huffington Post ~ Solving Poverty: What South Africa Needs Now Are Jobs

Operation HOPE, South Africa Report Card 2013

John Hope Bryant and Operation HOPE Team Visits South Africa This Week

Bryant Speaks at South African School on Financial Dignity and Hope for Their Futures

Operation HOPE 21: Telling The Story of Our Founding

21 years ago, this day, May 5th, 2013, the bold vision of and for Operation HOPE was born in South Central Los Angeles, immediately following the Rodney King Riots of April 29th, 1992.

"Rainbows, after storms.  You cannot have a rainbow without a storm first."

After the Rodney King verdict came down, so many things just went dark in the community I loved so much. The community I still love.  But not all things were negative, in the days and weeks and months that followed.

Congresswoman Maxine Waters and her local leadership group, led by Brenda Shockley as I recall, stood up their vision of and for Community Build. Today, Congresswoman Waters serves on the financial services committee for Congress, continuing to push her agenda for her people.

Then City Counciman Mark Ridkey-Thomas, who today is an esteemed and accomplished lead member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.  I fondly remember Supervisor Ridley-Thomas for so many reasons, but a couple stand out for me.  Mark (as I respectfully call him as a friend) served on our first board of directors for Operation HOPE. I remember our parting conversation. It was our first letterhead. We were committed to "eradicating poverty across America," and Mark (Ridley-Thomas) wanted to eradicate poverty and empower people IN THE 8TH DISTRICT!  We were both right, but Councilman Ridley-Thomas was more right than me.  He was 100% focused on empowering and serving the people in the district he was elected to serve.  This impresses me now, as much as it impressed me then.  I was sad to see Ridley-Thomas leave our board back then, by I so respected "why" he did it.  I also got the phrase "With HOPE," which has become my global signature sign-off statement on all correspondence, from Mr. Ridley-Thomas.  Finally, back then I would say that Ridley-Thomas was the only sitting elected official who really knew and understood community development, community empowerment, and the power of financial dignity in one's life.  

Honoring the Life and Legacy of the late Secretary Ron Brown

I commend and thank the White House and the Obama Administration for recognizing my late friend, Secretary Ron Brown, on the anniversary of his passing, along with 34 other nobel, dedicated Americans who gave their lives for public service.

Read the White House article in full here.

 

Atlanta Black Business Factoid

Atlanta Life Insurance Company was founded by a black barber named Alonzo Herndon, later becoming Atlanta's wealthiest African-American.



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 thought leader represented by the Bright Sight Group for public speaking. Mr. Bryant serves on the board of directors of Ares Commercial Real Estate Corporation (NYSE: ACRE), a specialty finance company that is managed by an affiliate of Ares Management LLC, a global alternative asset manager with approximately $59 billion in committed capital under management as of December 31, 2012.

Bryant Reflects on Alabama Tornadoes: It Killed More Than Lives

I am so very pleased that Operation HOPE will soon be able to move its 'silver rights' empowerment agenda, and specifically our HOPE Office of Small Business & Entrepreneurship work focused on nurturing and bringing up growing small business, minority small business and entrepreneurship in the state.  I am particularly thankful to leaders in and out of the state that encouraged our engagement on the ground there in the weeks and months following these devastating tornadoes.  Finally, I want to thank the U.S. Economic Development Administration and its leadership for the federal support here, which will be amplified by and further supported with private sector support. More on our plans in and for the state and her people to come.

That said, I was so distressed that in the period immediately following the worst tornadoes recorded in the southern states, and Alabama in particular, Operation HOPE and I were not in a position to help. Ultimately, I was actually a little disappointed in myself.  We followed all the rules.  I and we waited to make sure we had covered all the appropriate bases, paid respect to all leaders at the state, county, city and local level, and we covered all the appropriate protocols as a national partner for FEMA around emergency financial disaster preparedness, response and recovery. We even opened up our national call center for HOPE Coalition America based in Poway, California, a donation made available through our partner CoreLogic.  And yes, of course we helped each and everyone of those that called us.  But what we should have done is different.  

We should have -- no I should have -- simply placed HOPE staff on the ground, immediately and at our own expense if need be. But we did as we were counseled, and on that point I am glad we paid our proper respect to leadership.

What breaks my heart are the countless thousands of poor and struggling low-wealth individuals and families, be they white, black or brown, who never had an opportunity to access the immense federal resources that were available to those impacted by the disaster; from enhanced FEMA support, to low-interest SBA loans for rebuilding, to the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).  Furthermore, there was the that work I believe we could have done between survivors of disaster, along with the banks, credit unions, insurance companies and other private companies with which we have strong working relationships, and that had substantial investment in the state.  Work such as that we completed successfully for more than 200,000 survivors of Hurricane Katrina.

Join the King Center and Celebrate #MLK in the #KINGSDREAM #IAMFREEDOM Campaign

 

Join my friend Dr. Bernice King, CEO of the King Center, for this important campaign saluting her father's contribution in and to this great world, delivered through your eyes!  Share what you are doing to celebrate and salute Dr. King, through service this week!  I am.

Please share on Facebook, Twitter and other social media, today.

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 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.

 

John Hope Bryant Selected as Grand Marshal of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade in Dallas

HOPE Founder Salutes King’s Life and Legacy at the City of Dallas MLK Parade and the 31st Annual Martin Luther King Awards Banquet

Los Angeles – January 17, 2013 -- Operation HOPE announced today that John Hope Bryant, founder, chairman and chief executive officer, will preside as the Grand Marshal of the 31st Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Celebration in Dallas, Texas.  His participation in the televised event includes the historic march to Fair Park, a candle-lighting ceremony, and will culminate at the esteemed MLK Awards Banquet, where Bryant will keynote.

 

“The theme of this year’s celebrations .....”Passing on the Dream” exemplifies how brightly King’s Dream still burns in our memory. How radiantly his legacy still influences our lives,” Bryant said. “Dr. King is so special to me, because I believe that his final work, the Poor People’s campaign, is much of what I strive to do through Operation HOPE, empower people to control their own financial future and gain economic justice. Being a part of this event is a great honor for me.”

 

The activities give residents an opportunity to meet and mingle with government officials, community heads and faith leaders. Special Honorees include: Dr. Beverly Mitchell-Brooks, PhD, CEO/President-Urban League of Greater Dallas & North Central Texas and Commissioner John W. Price Dallas County Commissioner, District 3.  

Read the complete story on the HOPE Blog here.

John Hope Bryant To Speak at Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration for Dallas, Texas

31st ANNUAL MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.  BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION  .....Passing on the Dream

The Martin Luther King Jr. Community Centerpresents the 31st Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Celebration January 18th – 19th, 2013. Click here for more information. MLK Student Essay Contest Winner will be announced on Thursday, January 10, 2013. The Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center student essay contest is for educational levels; Elementary Schools/Learning Centers, and Middle Schools/High Schools. Click here to obtain the appropriate essay topic for your student category, download, complete and return the application. All essays must be submitted to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center no later than Wednesday, December 26, 2012, by 5:00 p.m. (no exceptions).

Respective first-place essay winners, will represent their school by reading their essay at the MLK Candle-Lighting Ceremony held at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center on January 19, 2013 at 7:00 p.m.. and serve as a Junior Grand Marshal in the MLK Celebration Parade on January 19, 2013 at 9:00 a.m. For additional information call 214-670-8418. Candle Lighting Ceremony will be hosted by the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. at 7:00 p.m. January 18, 2013. The program will be held at 2901 Pennsylvania Ave, Dallas, Texas, 75215, MLK Jr. Recreation Center Gym. MLK Birthday Celebration March/Parade will be starting at 10:00 am Saturday, January 19, 2013 from Dallas City Hall, 1500 Marilla Street, downtown Dallas. The participants will proceed down Ervay Street, turn left on MLK Blvd and end at Fair Park. Line up start at 8:00 am in the horseshoe parking area of City Hall. Interested participants can obtain a Parade Application/Entry Form on this web site. Once the Parade Application and Entry Form are completed, you can return it by fax to 214-670-8501 or mail it or deliver it to 2922 MLK Blvd, Suite 147, Dallas, Texas 75215. MLK Birthday Celebration Award Banquet will be held Saturday, January 19, 2013 at Hyatt Regency Dallas, 300 Reunion Blvd., Dallas, TX 75207. The Keynote Speaker for our banquet is John Bryant, CEO of Operation HOPE. The VIP Reception will begin at 6:30 pm with the Dinner Award Program immediately following. The Program will begin at 7:30 pm and end at approximately 9:45 pm.. The attire is Formal or After Five. Tickets or Tables can be purchased on this web site or you can obtain information on where to purchase tickets on this web site.

Statement by John Hope Bryant on the Passing of Mrs. Lillian Lewis

It is with sadness that I offer my personal condolences, along with the condolences of the entire Operation HOPE family, in the passing of the wife of civil rights icon, friend and Congressman John Lewis.

Mrs. Lillian Lewis was Congresswoman Lewis' partner, advisor, friend, love and lifemate, there from the days of the civil rights movement to present, and at every critical stage along the way.

Read a more complete story on the passing on Mrs. Lillian Lewis here.