This Mother’s Day, I honor the woman who gave me everything that truly matters—not money or privilege, but principles, purpose, and pride. My mother, Mrs. Juanita Smith, raised me in Compton, California, with little in the way of material wealth but an abundance of wisdom. She was the embodiment of Grit and Grace—two qualities that carried our family through storms and have since guided me through every chapter of my life.
My Mom taught me that while being broke is a moment, being poor is a mindset. That dignity can never be taken—only surrendered. That faith is real, and that love is the greatest investment one can make in their progeny. When I launched my first business at age 10, it wasn’t a banker who backed me—it was my mother, who handed me $40 and told me, “Go do something good with it.” That simple act of belief planted the seed for everything I’ve built since—multiple businesses, and my life’s mission to empower others through financial literacy and economic inclusion at Operation HOPE.
Even now, in times of uncertainty—when fear and division seem to grab headlines—we must pause and remember the foundational values passed down by those who came before us. Elders like my mother, and so many of yours, held this country together not with fame or fortune, but with faith, sacrifice, and service. They made bricks without straw. They created something from nothing. They reminded us that we are never victims, but architects of our own future. That is called grit.
That’s why I say, especially to our youth: You are not just inheritors of today’s challenges—you are builders of tomorrow’s promise. Reflect on the values your mother, grandmother, or auntie gave you. Listen to the women in your circle. Honor them and pay close attention to their gems of wisdom. Don’t just dream about a better world—build it, one decision, one act of kindness, one business, one investment in someone else’s life at a time. That is how you pay it forward.
Today, I feel a profound connection to her legacy and will continue to empower others to achieve their own financial independence and dignity. The vibrant cultures of our people, with an emphasis on community and resilience, mirror the lessons my mother imparted to me. Though my mother passed in 2023, her spirit lives on through the Juanita Murray Smith Foundation, and every person who’s ever attended a HOPE Inside session, opened a bank account for the first time, or taught their child how to dream big. That’s how we change the world. One family. One lesson. One act of hope at a time. That is what I call grace in action.
So today, I ask you to look inward—not in fear, but in faith. Not for what’s broken, but for what’s unbreakable. The values our mothers instilled in us—dignity, discipline, love—are still our greatest tools to build a better world.
To every mother, caregiver, and community matriarch who leads with Grit and Grace, THANK YOU! You are the quiet architects of our collective future. Please continue to pay it forward. Although the unsinkable Juanita Smith has been promoted to the high heavens, I know she is cheering us on every step of the way.