By Barb Adams, October 18, 2014

Hour 1:  John Hope Bryant

JohnHopeBryantPHOTO2014-131x150Joining Amerika Now is one of the nation’s most recognized empowerment leaders, John Hope Bryant, who will be discussing his latest book, How the Poor Can Save Capitalism:  Rebuilding the Path to the Middle Class.

Fully 70 percent of our economy is powered by consumer spending, not by business or government.  But it’s not the wealthy consumers who are driving economic growth in this country, it’s the bottom 80 percent of Americans by income, who spend 90 percent of their pay every year.

This is important, says entrepreneur and Operation HOPE Founder, John Hope Bryant, because if Wall Street, banks, large corporations, and our government want sustained economic growth, they need to focus their efforts where emerging markets, entrepreneurs, and small business owners are most abundant:  America’s poor and struggling middle class communities–especially our inner cities.  The 100 million Americans making $50,000 income or less, who routinely experience too much “month” at the end of their money, are the next major frontier of economic opportunity.

Bryant’s critically acclaimed new book, How the Poor Can Save Capitalism, is endorsed by former President Bill Clinton, Martin Luther King’s daughter, Rev. Bernice A. King, and conservative business leaders alike (with a forward by legendary civil rights leader Andrew Young).  In it, Bryant builds a compelling economic argument for investing in America’s least wealthy consumers.

HowthePoorCanSaveCapitalismBOOKCOVER-103x150Bryant says leaders can and should play a key role in helping the poorest in their communities–it’s a financial responsibility.

As Founder of Operation HOPE, a nonprofit private banker for low-wealth individuals and communities, Bryant explains the history and psychology behind the three factors that perpetuate poverty:  lack of self-confidence and self-esteem, lack of positive role models, and lack of opportunity.

Tonight, learn why financial literacy instruction from K through college is essential for self-determination and dignity; why improving credit scores can change one’s future in unexpected ways; why access to banking and investing should be a legal human right; why investing in poor communities creates compounding wealth and other surprising benefits for corporations and banks; and why finance-related stress and lack of hope in less-privileged populations inhibits economic prosperity for everyone.

John Hope Bryant is an entrepreneur, author, advisor, and one of the nation’s most recognized empowerment leaders.  Time Magazine named John Hope Bryant one of the “50 for the Future” leaders.  He is the Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Operation HOPE and Bryant Group Companies, and as the author of a former book, Love Leadership:  The New Way to Lead in a Fear-Based World (Jossey-Bass, 2009), was the only African-American bestselling business author for several years.  He currently serves on President Obama’s Advisory Council on Financial Capability for Young Americans, and also served under George W. Bush as Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Underserved and Community Empowerment.

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 also is a co-founder of Global Dignity, with 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.

Read more…

HowthePoorCanSaveCapitalismBOOKCOVER-103x150

Watch the 4-minute movie on How The Poor Can Save Capitalism here.

Listen to the first national interview for How The Poor Can Save Capitalism, on the Steve Harvey Morning Show here.

Join the national HOPE 100-City Book Tour here

 

 

Posted by Natasha Eldridge, Senior Fellow, Office of the Chairman

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