John Hope Bryant is investing in the businesses of Albany State University graduates.
As AFROTECH™ previously reported, Bryant has served as the chairman and CEO of Operation HOPE Inc. since 1992. The organization focuses on improving financial well-being in underserved communities, benefiting 2.8 million people and directing $2.4 billion in private capital.
During an appearance on the “Black Tech Green Money” podcast, Bryant emphasized that financial literacy is the new civil rights movement for this generation.
“We have got to be as obsessed with this as we were with the right to vote,” he explained.
Bryant continues to be a voice and a vessel, and this was displayed on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024, at Albany State University (ASU) in New York. He served as the commencement speaker in front of a crowd of over 700 students, according to WALB News.
“John and I are good friends. We’ve known each other for a while,” ASU Interim President Dr. Lawrence M. Drake II told the outlet. “I also thought he could relate to the audience effectively. He and I both share a journey that’s similar to many of those students that are sitting there today. So when we were looking for the kind of person that we wanted to ignite and be a person that our scholars would remember, John certainly came to mind.”
Following Bryant’s speech, he surprised students with $1.8 million in grant funds. The donation will provide 70 graduates with $25,000 each to support their entrepreneurial journeys. Additionally, students will receive a free domain name, website, business plan, banking support, Shopify account for e-commerce, and access to an attorney, accountant, business manager, and e-commerce executive.
“In every community, there’s a Steve Jobs. In every community, there’s an Oprah Winfrey. In every community, there’s a hero waiting to be born, but somebody’s got to pull that out of this community and shine a light on them. I mean, that’s really the whole point of power. You gather it so you give it away,” Bryant expressed, per WALB News.
