The Rainbow Push Coalition & Citizenship Education Fund honored Operation HOPE Chairman, Founder, and CEO John Hope Bryant at their 27th Annual Wall Street Project Economic Summit on March 25th. Hosted at The New York Stock Exchange, the event applauded Bryant’s efforts to close the wealth gap in America through financial literacy. The event also addressed why amplifying diversity, equity and inclusion is important to building stronger communities.
As an extension of historical Civil Rights efforts, Bryant has been a champion for a new movement of “Silver Rights,” which calls to increase financial literacy and access to resources for all Americans.
Established by Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr. in 1996, the ‘Wall Street Project’ challenges corporate America to address the multi-billion dollar trade deficit of minority vendors and consumers, and help ensure equal opportunities for culturally diverse employees, entrepreneurs and consumers.
Bryant, a visionary entrepreneur and author of the new book “Financial Literacy for All,” was noted for his 30-year commitment to serving families and individuals in underserved communities. Through the work of Operation HOPE, Bryant continues to invest in minority entrepreneurs, increase homeownership, and educate youth about financial wellness.
“Operation HOPE is laser-focused on ensuring that everyone— regardless of circumstances, creed, or color – has a better understanding of how to build generational wealth and thrive. Our ‘Silver Rights’ movement would not be possible without champions for equity, like the legendary Rev. Jesse L. Jackson,” said Bryant. “I’m honored to receive this award from the Rainbow PUSH Coalition and Citizenship Education Fund and proudly accept the responsibility of moving America forward together.”
About Operation HOPE, Inc.
Since 1992, Operation HOPE has been moving America from civil rights to “Silver Rights” with the mission of making free enterprise and capitalism work for the underserved—disrupting poverty for millions of low and moderate-income youth and adults across the nation. Through its award-winning community uplift model, HOPE Inside, which received the Innovator of the Year recognition by American Banker magazine, Operation HOPE has served more than 4 million individuals and directed more than $4 billion in economic activity into disenfranchised communities—turning check-cashing customers into banking customers, renters into homeowners, small business dreamers into small business owners, minimum wage workers into living wage consumers, and uncertain disaster victims into financially empowered disaster survivors. Operation HOPE recently received Fast Company’s World Changing Ideas Award for driving entrepreneurship as well as its tenth consecutive 4-star charity rating for fiscal management and commitment to transparency and accountability from the prestigious non-profit evaluator, Charity Navigator. Operation HOPE also recently launched The 1865 Project, an initiative designed to help level the economic playing field for underserved Americans.
For more information: OperationHOPE.org. Join the HOPE conversation on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
Operation HOPE Contacts:
Kevin Boucher
kevin.boucher@operationhope.org
Lalohni Campbell
la@persemediagroup.com