RECENT POSTS
May 5: HOPE Was Born—and We’re Just Getting Started
On May 5, 1992, in the shadow of civil unrest and a country in crisis, I boarded a bus with a handful of bankers and took them straight into South Central Los Angeles. Not for a photo op. For a purpose. We weren’t there to observe. We were there to invest—to spark...
Green Socks, Big Message: Why Financial Literacy Must Be Seen to Be Heard
On April 30, we closed out Financial Literacy Month with a bold, unapologetic statement: Put Your Best Foot Forward.And yes—we meant that literally. Through the Green Socks Day Challenge, we invited leaders, learners, CEOs, teachers, athletes, students, and everyone...
Why Hope Still Matters—Even When the Economy Feels Shaky
This week, Operation HOPE released our Q1 2025 HOPE Insider Report, and the results speak volumes—not just about the economy, but about the mindset of everyday Americans trying to navigate it. Let’s be honest: people are worried. Nearly three out of four respondents...
Green Socks Day: A New Kind of Civil Rights Movement
Today, we wear green socks—but this isn’t about fashion. It’s about financial dignity. Green Socks Day is a fun, grassroots campaign rooted in one powerful idea: meet people where they are. Whether you're a policymaker in Washington, a CEO in a high-rise, or a parent...
The Conversation America Needs Right Now
I believe financial literacy is the civil rights issue of this generation—not Black or white, red or blue, but green. That’s why I joined Bloomberg to speak plainly about where we are as a country and what it's really going to take to move forward. We talked about...
Remembering His Holiness Pope Francis
Today, I join the global community in mourning the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis. Throughout his papacy, Pope Francis championed the cause of the marginalized, advocating for social justice, economic inclusion, and compassion for all. His unwavering commitment...
DREAM FORWARD: Help Shape the Economic Future of America – 12:45 pm ET
You don't want to miss this historic town hall dedicated to creating a business plan for America, shaping our economic future. Register and tune in at 12:45 pm ET for Dream Forward, and join the conversation with a host of thought leaders and change agents from across...
Operation HOPE and City of Memphis Reveal Latest Speaker Line-Up for Historic Virtual Town Hall at the National Civil Rights Museum Featuring 100+ Influential Leaders
Operation HOPE and The City of Memphis announced today the latest speaker line-up for their historic virtual town hall and working session taking place on April 4, 2025, the 57th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination. The event, titled “Where Do We...
Rebuilding America’s Business Plan from the Bottom Up
In a recent appearance on CNBC's Squawk Box with Andrew Ross Sorkin, John Hope Bryant, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Operation HOPE, kicked off Financial Literacy Month with a powerful message: financial literacy is not just an economic issue—it’s a civil rights...
Tribute to Lisa Young Alston
LOVE IS: Exuding warmth. Living with compassion and conviction. Sharing with others, including time with her beloved Dad—who is my mentor. THAT was Lisa. The true personification of love. A walking quiet storm. A leader who never sought the spotlight. She simply lived...
AI, Jobs, and the Future of Economic Opportunity
Artificial intelligence isn’t coming—it’s already here. And while many focus on the promise of AI, I’m more concerned about the risk it poses to those at the bottom of the economic pyramid. This week, at CONVERGE LIVE in Singapore, I spoke with CNBC’s Julia Boorstin...
Are Credit Scores the Key to Healing Our Economy and Democracy?
America’s financial health isn’t just about dollars and cents—it’s about people. It’s about our families, our communities, and the future of our democracy. And right now, far too many Americans are stuck in a financial system that wasn’t designed to serve them. That’s...
160 Years Later: The Promise of the Freedman’s Bank Lives On
160 years ago, America made a promise. On March 3, 1865, in the final days of the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln and Congress established the Freedman’s Savings Bank—a radical idea at the time. The vision was simple but powerful: economic freedom must accompany...
Expanding Representation, Creating Impact: Joining the National Advisory Council for ForbesBLK
I’m honored to join the newly established National Advisory Council at ForbesBLK—a global community of Black entrepreneurs, professionals, leaders, and creators who are shaping the future of business, culture, and society. This initiative is more than a platform; it’s...
Operation HOPE and SCORE Forge Strategic Partnership to Empower Small Business and Entrepreneurs Across America
ATLANTA, GA– February 26, 2025 – Operation HOPE, a national nonprofit dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship and financial literacy, today announced a partnership with SCORE, the nation’s largest network of volunteer business mentors. This partnership, designed to...