"We (older folks) are analog, trying to be digital."

General Colin Powell, speaking at the NAACP Convention

"We cannot be free today without access to capital. Maybe what we need now is a bank account for every American as a fundamental right. It would be good for everyone, from the poor to government to the banks."

Civil eights icon Ambassador Andrew Young speaking at the NAACP Conference this morning.

JHB blogging from the iPhone.

"if you don't like Andy Young as mayor, then it's your time now. If you didn't like Colin Powell as general, it's your time now. If you didn't like what any of us did, then it's your time NOW. Lead."

Dr. Benjamin Hooks, former head of the NAACP at the NAACP opening session. Blogging from my iPhone

"I started this work as a young lady, and at 97 years old I am still working to make civil rights and the 14th Amendment of the Constitution real in the lives of people and this nation."

My friend, play mom and mentor Dr. Dorothy I. Height speaking at NAACP Convention. Amazing.

This morning I am proud to join Ambassador Andrew Young, civil rights icon, HOPE Global Spokesman and my personal hero, along with Mrs. Carolyn Young, here in Manhattan, New York at the annual conference and 100 anniversary of the NAACP. Mary Hagerty, our global chief of financial literacy at HOPE, who is based out of our Harlem HOPE Center, also joined me here.

A great collection of legends and luminaries on the stage now, including General Colin Powell, Vernon Jordan, Rev. Jesse Jackson, Congressman John Conyers, Dr. Dorothy I. Height, NAACP Chairman Julian Bond, and of course Amb. Andrew Young. We are all here, able to be free, because of them.

A special kudos from me, my government relations chief Jena Roscoe, who knows Ben best, and the Operation HOPE family, to my friend Ben Jealous, president and CEO of the NAACP. The NAACP family is indeed fortunate to have Ben as its leader at this historic time and place.

Onward with HOPE

John Hope Bryant

"Take life seriously, but never take yourself too seriously."

John Hope Bryant

"Elvis made $52 million last year, and he's dead. What are you doing with your life, alive?"

Vince Bryant Clemons, my new barber in Atlanfa spouting wisdom from the chair. Deep.

"This is a revolution that won't fire a shot....we come with the power of our souls, and our bodies, to love the hell out of the state of Alabama."

Ambassador Andrew Young when he was senior aide to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. during the second American revolution -- the civil rights movement.

John Hope Bryant blogging from his iPhone, sitting next to his mentor Andrew Young at the screening of his latest film, "What's Wrong With Nigeria " part of Andrew Young Presents at the Magic Johnson Theatre in Atlanta.

"Every closed eye is not sleep."

My mentor and personal hero civil rights icon Ambassador Andrew Young told me this when, one day a few years ago, I was reading him something I wrote, and frankly I thought he had gone to sleep on me. I was saddened and thought maybe he thought it was well, a "sleeper" (smile) -- until he opened his left eye and told me exactly what I had said over 20 minutes, and his view of same. Lessons everywhere. Never assume anything, about anyone. Be amazed by the continued wonder of life.

Blogging from my iPhone

John Hope Bryant

I asked my Japanese mentor, Ambassador Saburo Yuzawa, "what is the purpose to life?" He said, "I will tell you." But when I tried to sit down and to take time to listen to what I thought would be an hours long explaination, he told me not to get too cozy, as it would only take a moment to explain. The thing he said next, more than a decade ago now, changed my life.

He told me, "John, the purpose to life is to become transparent to God's will." Wow, I said. How do I do that?" Response;

"The only way to become transparent to God's will, is to also learn to become reasonably comfortable in ones own skin. And the key there, is to learn how to get out of your own way." How often I asked (smile)." His final response, "every single day.". This has been my daily mandate on my life every day since.

"The key to life is successfully managing pain."

Fred D. Smith, friend and advisor to John Hope Bryant.

The number one reason why black and brown people drop out of college is not academics, it's money.

John Hope Bryant

"There is more success from base hits and bunts in life, than from home runs. Dr. King gave the 'I Have A Dream' speech 100 times before the March on Washington. Never, ever, ever give up on your dreams."

John Hope Bryant

Congratulations to my friend Ben Jealous, president and CEO of the NAACP, along with HOPE board member and friend Robert Marchman, EVP and the hghest ranking African-American at the NYSE, for coming together and the NAACP "Ringing the Bell" at the New York Stock Exchange today in celebration of its incredible 100 year anniversary!   The NAACP has certainly "added" to our nation's rich history of freedom, for all.

John Hope Bryant, founder, Operation HOPE

The Financial Times estimates that approximately 50 million jobs will be lost to this global economic crisis, and I happen to believe that is a conservative number, as more than 25 million jobs have already been lost in China alone.  Additionally, the World Economic Forum estimates that soon 100 million jobs will be needed throughout the Middle East, for a population that is also estimated will soon be 60% populated by those 25 years old or younger.  And if you can accept, having nothing to do with racism and discrimination and everything to do with individuals operating in what I refer to as “circles of comfort, “ that minorities, women and people of  color often are the last hired and the first fired – then “jobs” in the traditional sense of that term are not coming back anytime soon.

I say this, to say this – all you hear from politicians, public policy experts and economists these days is that the economy is sluggish (an understatement), GDP is down, and we need to “create more jobs” to solve it.  But where are these jobs coming from, as they don’t grow on trees, much like money doesn’t.  There is almost a presumption about jobs and job creation, and they almost always are tied to big business.  Well, every big business was once a small one, and in many cases that same business started out as an idea in someone’s garage (Bill Gates and the founding of Microsoft with partner Paul Allen). 

Or take Ryan Taylor, a 30 something young African-American dreamer turned entrepreneur and clothier, and now owner and CEO of DROBE Clothing.  Ryan came to me at Operation HOPE having nothing more than a dream, thinking all he needed was money.  I encouraged Ryan to take some time to learn the language of money, and to understand how to run a business, but like many budding entrepreneurs all Ryan wanted to do was just “run.”  He was ready to go, as in “ready, fire, aim.” 

Ryan took out a small loan for $10,000, arranged through one of our HOPE Partner banks, and quickly lost his shirt.  To his credit, Ryan came back this time looking for knowledge and wisdom, before capital.   HOPE worked with Ryan through our HOPE Banking center Network to get him ready for the world of entrepreneurship, and later after giving Ryan another $35,000 working capital loan (he repaid the first loan) his business took off.  Today Ryan is generating high six figure revenue; he is employing people from the neighborhood, creating career opportunities, paying his taxes, taking care of his responsibilities, raising his children, and together with his wife Carrie have also launched a nonprofit organization committed to uplifting the community he and I grew up in.  Ryan is “paying it forward,” and now serves on the 5MK (5 MILLION KIDS) Advisory Board for HOPE, where is proving to be a remarkable role model for young men who see Ryan Taylor the CEO and say, “I can be you when I grow up.”  That is what I mean by eradicating poverty in our community, and you do it one success story at a time.  Ryan Taylor makes every suit and dress shirt you see me in, not some global brand name department store or designer.  Most of the world operates much the same way – local, local, local.

I think that what we need is a global call for the nurturing of a generation of black, brown and different entrepreneurs, small business owners and self-employment projects.  The door to get there is financial literacy and teaching an entire generation what we at HOPE call the “language of money.”

When traditional jobs do not exist we should set out to create new ones. Former President Clinton once said that every nation must focus on creating an entire new sector of jobs every 10 years or so.  This is precisely right, and this is also where Detroit and the American automotive industry, and with respect their unions, went wrong.  They have effectively been coasting for 40 years, living off the legacy of their past and trying to maintain the status qua.  What they should have been doing, and hopefully what they will begin doing again now, is “re-imagining” their future, as Bill Walbrecher, HOPE’s president and COO would tell me.  Every day if you wake up with the mentality that you do not have a job and you have to earn your way through the next 24 hours, we all would be better off and live more sustainable (if not more passionate and engaging) lives.

What we need is to return to the power of the idea, which lies at the very foundation of the birth of America.   What we need to is to once again ignite the imagination of America, and the world led by America, through the nurturing of a generation of entrepreneurs and self employment projects here, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Latin America, Central America Europe and the world over.

What we need to understand that you cannot even have a rainbow without having a storm first, and that not everything that happened in the context of the Great Depression was bad.  In fact, a lot of good came out of the post Great Depression period, including a modernized Federal Reserve, the FDIC, an explosive growth in credit unions because traditional banks refused to lend (sound familiar), and our modern social safety net.  We also learned how to hustle again, and that is never a bad thing, for “love is work.”

One person can indeed change the world, and I would suggest that that one person – is staring you in the middle. Let’s go.

Onward with HOPE,

John Hope Bryant is the founder, chairman and CEO of Operation HOPE, America's first non-profit social investment banking organization.  His work and advocacy at HOPE led then President Bush to sign an executive order making financial literacy U.S. policy.  Today, Bryant continues to serve as vice chairman of the U.S. President's Advisory Council on Financial Literacy as well as chairman of the Council Committee on the Under-Served, in President Barack Obama's Administration.  Bryant is also the financial literacy advisor to the World Economic Forum Global Agenda Council on Financial Empowerment,  and in 2005 was selected in the inaugural class of Young Global Leaders for the World Economic Forum. In August, 2009, Bryant will publish his latest book entitled LOVE LEADERSHIP; A New Way to Lead in a Fear-Based World, BY Jossey-Bass.

"An entrepreneur works 18 hours a day to keep from getting a job."

John Hope Bryant

I keep saying that this is not a global recession, but a global reset.  What I mean is that the so-called prosperity we have experienced in years gone by is well, gone.  We will no doubt see prosperity again, but it will look differently, feel differently, be different (meaning, that this time it will be real and sustainable) and I believe, be achieved differently.  I have also said that this crisis is not about economics per se, but a crisis of virtues and values. 

Think about the innovators and leaders you admire?  They dreams big dreams, and were passionate about what I call the power of the idea.  From Richard Branson and his Virgin empire, to Bill Gates and his Microsoft, and now his foundation, to the woman that founded Mothers Against Drunk Driving in the United States, to my friend Klaus Schwab, founder of the World Economic Forum and the Forum of Young Global Leaders, for which I a member, to the framers of the original vision for OECD itself.  They were all driven by the power of the idea.  The problem is that today and over the past 5-10 years, you have had individuals, all over the world, who woke up and said “I want to make money,” or “I want to be powerful.”   This is the wrong ambition, and it led to the wrong outcome.  The odd thing is, if you pursue the power of the idea, and you find a way to serve humanity, to add value, to empower people and to move our world forward, you will ultimately become wealthy (spiritually if not financially) and very powerful, but this was never the end goal.  To quote OECD’s Joanne Caddy, “we have lost our storyline,” and finding a way forward, and developing and philosophy and strategy for sustainable global prosperity again will require that we get it back.

We have also forgotten who is in charge here, and why we do all that we do – it is about the people, and for the people.  We have lost our storyline.  When you understand that it is about the people, you can see that compelling statistic that undergirds the largest economy in the world (the U.S. economy with more than $14 trillion annually); 70% of the U.S. economy is driven by the consumer.  And if the U.S. consumer is 70% of the U.S. economy, that means they are approximately 25% of the world economy.  Put simply, when consumers in the U.S. stop buying (responsibly), factories in China stop building (more than 70,000 factories in China shut down last year alone).  Message: in a global economic eco-system, we are all in this together.  Quoting President John F. Kennedy, “we all inhabit this small planet.”  In the backdrop of this global economic crisis, the world needs the United States to succeed again, and (new message), the United States needs the world to succeed too.  We are all in this together.  But none of this is possible, without a laser like focus on our ultimate customer – the people.

I believe the 20th century was about emerging democracies around the world, and the way to codify that in the hands of the average person was the right to vote.  The right to vote brought power literally down to the level of the people, and it commoditized democracy in the minds of the individual who is saying “how does this relate to me?”  Well, in a global economic system, I believe that financial literacy is a civil rights issue, and the first global silver rights issue.  If you don’t understand what I call “the language of money,” and you don’t have a bank account today, you are an economic slave.    In an environment where it is estimated the world will shed more than 50 million jobs in the backdrop of this global economic crisis (more than half of that in China alone), and where the Middle East is crying out for 100 million new jobs for a generation of young people (estimated that 60% of the population in the Middle East will be under 25 years old within a decade), we cannot continue to cry out for traditional “jobs” to solve our economic and soon social problems.  We have got to nurture a generation of entrepreneurs, small and micro-business owners, and “self-employment projects.”  We must empower people to solve increasingly help solve their own problems because governments cannot solve them for them anymore, alone.  We must help people help themselves, and the door to self-reliance is teaching people financial literacy, the language of money and helping them “crack the code” of free enterprise and capitalism, in their lives.  While doing this we must also remember that financial literacy is not a math class; money is emotional.  Money is aspirational, and our relationship with money is impacted by many factors, from environment, to culture, to our parents, role models, even self-esteem, hopes and our dreams.

And the problem is not just now, it is next too.  Quoting my friend Marguerite Kondracke, CEO of the America’s Promise Alliance in the U.S., “if we are not careful, the next group of underperforming assets will be our children.” Children are dropping out of high school in developed countries at an alarming rate (30-50% across the board in the United States alone). I believe they are dropping out because they don’t believe education is relevant to their futures.  I believe that the way to make education relevant is to show kids how to do well, how to succeed, and even how to get rich (legally), and that is financial literacy, responsible free enterprise and capitalism, ownership, opportunity and entrepreneurship.  That’s all about giving our kids their storyline back.  We owe them that.

There is nothing wrong with free enterprise and capitalism. The problem was and in some cases remains the abuse of free enterprise and capitalism; the greed, the shorter-ism and the focus on “me” over “we.”  In the good times, the only problem was that poor people did not have any capitalism, and did not understand free-enterprise, but in these times, it feels like almost no one does.  If you are middle class today, you feel poor. Can I get an Amen. 

Financial literacy is not the Holy Grail, but it is a critically important and much overlooked tool in the financial and economic recovery and stabilization toolbox.  I believe it will prove to be a critical competency and a major portfolio over the next decade for any Head of State or serious leader on the world stage.  Remember, 10 years ago individuals pursuing an environmental agenda was written off as “tree huggers,” and those advocating HIV/AIDS prevention were otherwise marginalized, but you cannot call yourself a respected leader today without having a significant understanding of, nor a public policy portfolio addressing either of these issues today.  In the backdrop this global economic crisis, financial literacy is the new global public policy competency that all leaders must learn to master – for the sake of their people.  It is for this reason that I am proud that I was able to compel then President George W. Bush to sign an Executive Order, inspired by our work at Operation HOPE, establishing financial literacy as the policy of the U.S. federal government, and even prouder to see President Barack Obama move this aggressively forward as part of his Administration’s agenda.  Last week the Obama Administration announced a sweeping reform of our financial and regulatory framework in the U.S., including a call for a new consumer oriented agency, whose mission in part will be financial literacy.  I am proud to serve President Obama as vice chairman of the U.S. President’s Advisory Council on Financial Literacy, and chairman of the Council Committee on the Under-Served.

What I keep telling my billionaire friends, is the best way for them to keep their billions, is to make sure that others make and keep some millions, thousands (our middle class), and hundreds (the poor on the first ladder of prosperity). It is not charity, but enlightened self-interest, and we can indeed find a way to do well and to doing good too.  To do well by doing good.  To foster a win/win society, versus win/lose.  After all, we are all in this together.

John Hope Bryant is the founder, chairman and CEO of Operation HOPE, America's first non-profit social investment banking organization.  His work and advocacy at HOPE led then President Bush to sign an executive order making financial literacy U.S. policy.  Today, Bryant continues to serve as vice chairman of the U.S. President's Advisory Council on Financial Literacy as well as chairman of the Council Committee on the Under-Served, in President Barack Obama's Administration.  Bryant is also the financial literacy advisor to the World Economic Forum Global Agenda Council on Financial Empowerment,  and in 2005 was selected in the inaugural class of Young Global Leaders for the World Economic Forum. In August, 2009, Bryant will publish his latest book entitled LOVE LEADERSHIP; A New Way to Lead in a Fear-Based World, BY Jossey-Bass.

As I sat and watched the memorial service today for the late Michael Jackson, in between the deep moments of personal sadness, there were sweet, swet memories.  Memories, of course, like growing up on the music of Michael Jackson and the amazing Jackson 5 -- or "African American Royalty," as I referred to the Jackson family as a young boy.  As a young boy growing up, there was simply no other black family like this one --- in the world; and I was proud. And then there were memories that touched me even deeper, because they were still very much with me in the present as I sat there watching the memorial.  My mind and heart, turned to Quincy Jones, who thought of Michael as his "little brother." 

Just before Christmas last year, my friend and mentor Quincy (Jones) called and invited my sweetie, Mrs. Sheila Kennedy Bryant, and I to join him, his family, and a few close friends at his home on Christmas day.  We were in Maui, Hawaii at the time, enjoying our annual Bryant family retreat there, but how could we not accept Q's gracious and loving offer, so we flew back to be with him. 

To me,Q, hs son QD3 (Quincy D. Jones, III), Jolie, Gloria, and the extended Q clan feel just like family, and it goes without saying that the time together was precious and priceless.  And without getting into private areas,or talking about who was there, and naming names, let me simply say this; legends, beyond Q, were in the room.  Many, many of them.  And after dinner, around midnight or so, a passionate conversation started up amongst the artists present (singers and musicians), centered around one question --- who was "the greatest entertainer" of them all? 

And while this debate and discussion went on for at least two hours, and while amazing and brilliant names were tossed about, and while individuals had strong opinions one way and another, and legends were cited from this continent and that one.....at the end of this glorious evening, and early morning time, only one name stood and withstood the evaluation of their peers  ----- Mr. Michael Jackson.  It was Michael Jackson, everyone universally seemed to agree, who was not only the so-called King of Pop, but as Barry Gordy described him at today's memorial service, "Michael Jackson was the greatest entertainer who had ever lived."

All my sweetie and I could do was to observe and respect what was ufolding before us, as this was mostly a discussion between and amongst Michael's peers and contemporaries -- and of course the icon Quincy Jones, and we felt it best if we simply kept our mouths shut (smile), listen and learn.  But, at the end of the day, we of course agreed with their conclusion.  Irrespective of race, space, time, nation, nationality or continent, Michael Jackson was indeed, "the greatest entertainer of all time."

God rest your soul Mr. Michael Jackson.  Our hearts and prayers are with your children, your brothers and sisters, your entire family, and all those who loved you (and still do), at this truly overwhelming and somewhat unbelievable time. "Gone too soon..."

I truly hope, and believe, that "Michael Jackson has been promoted." Gone on, to a better place.  God knows our heart, even when at times we break His.  Rainbows, after storms.  God bless you Michael.

Onward and with HOPE

John Hope Bryant

My personal hero and mentor Ambassador Andrew Young, here with his wife Carolyn Young, at the Emmy Awards where Young's films have been nominated for two Emmy Awards, and he will also receive a special Governor's Award. Honored to be here with them tonight.

Blogging from my iPhone

"In the backdrop of this global economic crisis, financial literacy, and teaching people what I call 'the language of money' here and around the world, is a new civil rights issue, and the first global silver rights issue.  Other silver rights will follow. ....If you don't understand the 'language of money,' and you don't have a bank account today, you are just an economic slave."

John Hope Bryant

Improving Financial Literacy for Our Economic Recovery

Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett was the closing speaker for Operation HOPE’s Global Financial Literacy Summit at TheARC in Anacostia on Wednesday, June 17th.

You can read the entire article on The White House Blog here.  Share it with friends. Spread the word.

"Talk without being offensive.  Listen without being defensive, and always leave even your adversary with their dignity."

Reverend Dr. Cecil "Chip" Murray, and mentor to John Hope Bryant

As many as 52 million people could lose their jobs from the economic crisis world-wide, says the International labour Organization, an agency of the United Nations.

A vendor selling tomatoes in the informal economy in India makes about 250 rupees a day, or about $5.00, which is not a lot but is surprisingly enough to feed and take care of a household of 9.

WSJ