This is my pride and joy in Harlem, New York. The HOPE Financial Literacy Empowerment Center, Harlem, otherwise known as the HOPE Center, Harlem, is a constant buzz of activity in the local neighborhood. People coming in to use our HOPE Inner City Cyber Cafe (which is packed right now by the way, at 9:55am on a Monday), or coming in to work on their business plan, or to receive mortgage counseling, or to work on improving their credit scores, to attend one of our HOPE Seminars on a range of issues — or simply to get their dignity back.

A special thank you to former president William Jefferson Clinton and his Clinton Foundation, which welcomed us into the neighborhood as partners when we opened (the president went into an inner city classroom with me to teach financial literacy), to Congressman Charlie Rangel, local community and faith leaders, and of course JP Morgan Chase, the U.S. EDA and E Trade Financial who funded it. E Trade continues as the signature sponsor and partner to this day.

One person, one company, one community can make a difference — and it starts with you.

John Hope Bryant is founder, chairman and CEO of Operation HOPE and bestselling author of LOVE LEADERSHIP: The New Way to Lead in a Fear-Based World (Jossey-Bass).

– Posted from my iPhone

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