Ambassador Andrew Young, our Global Spokesperson, reflected on Quincy’s extraordinary ability to bring people together: “He was a true global citizen…he took the music of the world and created a global symphony, which was ‘We Are the World.’ There was nowhere in the world you could go without people being pulled together by Quincy’s music.” Quincy’s unique ability to unite people through his art embodied the spirit of hope and solidarity.

John Hope Bryant, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Operation HOPE, shared his deep admiration: “Quincy lived an incredible life. If anybody deserves to be with the heavens, it’s Quincy Jones.” He recalled a memorable conversation where Quincy shared his creative process: “I just get the best musicians, the best talent…then I sit at the piano and tell my assistant, ‘Leave the door cracked…leave room for God to walk in.’” This philosophy, leaving space for the divine in creativity, speaks to the depth of Quincy’s wisdom and humility.

Quincy’s role in 5MK was pivotal. He was the first to say “yes” to our mission of making “smart cool and sexy,” helping inspire millions of young people to stay in school and believe in their potential. His involvement led to the creation of the Quincy Jones Banking on Our Future Celebrity Edition, a groundbreaking curriculum in financial literacy.

“Live, laugh, love, and give—that’s Quincy,” Bryant reflected. His generosity of spirit lifted everyone around him, and his impact went far beyond music. He lived his life with purpose, always seeking to empower and uplift others.

As we reflect on Quincy’s incredible legacy, we are reminded of his enduring influence and the countless lives he touched. His commitment to love, unity, and empowerment will continue to guide and inspire us.

Quincy, thank you for your boundless love and your profound impact. Your light will forever shine through the work we do and the lives we touch. Rest in peace, dear friend. Your spirit will always be with us.

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Kevin Boucher, a 20-year industry veteran, has been promoted to EVP, Chief Communications and Strategy Officer. Mr. Boucher joined Operation HOPE in 2014, having led organizational strategy for numerous top-tier public and private sector entities. Mr. Boucher will lead executive and organizational marketing and communications strategies and continue in his capacity as Director of the HOPE Global Forums. A veteran of President Clinton’s campaign team, Mr. Boucher led growth and transformation efforts for organizations including the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, CVS, Commonwealth of the Bahamas, California State University system, Special Olympics, MTV, Public Storage, and the Los Angeles Junior Chamber of Commerce. 

Chaitra Dalton Bryant has joined the organization in a volunteer capacity as a Sr. Advisor for Health, Equity and Community Wellness. Ms. Dalton Bryant will support the organization in developing a holistic approach to its wellbeing efforts for both internal and external stakeholders. Ms. Dalton Bryant is currently the Chair of the National Minority Health Association and the founder of The Art of Wellness, which supports individuals and organizations with a modern and natural approach to developing a healthy, balanced lifestyle. She graduated magna cum laude with a B.S. in Human Development and continued her education via The Institute for Integrative Nutrition and Cornell University, with certifications in plant-based dieting and the psychology of eating and health coaching.

Jena Roscoe has been promoted to the Operating Committee in her role as SVP of Government Relations and Public Policy. Ms. Roscoe joined Operation HOPE in 2001, following her tenure as Associate Director, White House Office of Public Liaison in the Clinton Administration. At Operation HOPE, Ms. Roscoe manages partnerships and alliances with international, federal, state, and local governments and leads the organization’s public policy work. Ms. Roscoe participates in public policy forums around financial literacy, financial inclusion, and emergency financial disaster preparedness. She is an undergraduate alumnus of the Howard University School of Communications, and a graduate of The American University in Paris, France, study abroad program.

“As Operation HOPE continues to grow and scale throughout the U.S., we are continually seeking to ensure our resources evolve to best meet the needs of our clients, our partners, and the communities we serve,” said Brian Betts, Operation HOPE President and Chief Financial Officer. “We look forward to the contributions Ms. Roscoe and Mr. Boucher can deliver in their new capacities and are excited that Ms. Dalton Bryant can help us provide an enhanced wellbeing model to our clients and stakeholders.”

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Living in the shadow of giants is never an easy task, but Dexter thoughtfully, quietly, consistently, and passionately poured himself into the work of protecting his father’s legacy and global intellectual property.  Dexter had a keen intellect, was super smart and detailed about everything he touched, and not as well known by most, he was a creative artist as well. 

On behalf of myself, my wife Chaitra, and the entire HOPE family, I extend our heartfelt sympathies to his brother Martin, his sister Bernice, his wife Leah, and the King Center community.  As friends to the King family, my heart is heavy today, and my deepest condolences go out to my friends Bernice and Martin, and their entire extended family. 

Today, the cause lost a warrior. May we all resolve to step up in his memory, and continue the unfinished work of advancing opportunity for all.

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Rachel Young-Didier, founder of the The Pink and Diamonds Collective, LLC, joined the Operation HOPE with a thorough understanding of how to create a business plan, the four P’s of marketing, and other business knowledge essentials. But she still felt that something was missing in her small business journey. She was looking for something with depth, meaning, and connectivity, especially during a time where genuine human interactions were extremely limited. In her search she uncovered Juan Anes‘ virtual ETP class through Cross River Bank in Brooklyn, New York.

Much to her surprise and delight, Rachel found exactly what she was looking for! She found herself developing bonds and friendships with other entrepreneurs who had big dreams, just like she had. Not only did they learn together, but they learned from each other. Rachel was able to offer insights and knowledge from her experiences and she received the same from others. Most importantly, she found a positive, safe environment where she could be challenged to put her knowledge, both new and old, into action, and begin fully pursuing her dreams.

Through the course of the program, Rachel completed her business plan, which had been a long time goal of hers. Now, she’s looking to gain even more knowledge and put it all into action in another area of her life: her finances. As Rachel graduated from the ETP course she enrolled into Juan’s Credit and Money Management sessions.

You can find community among other aspiring and existing small business leaders, too, when you join the next HOPE Entrepreneurial Training Program cohort nearest you, or when you join the 1 Million Black Businesses initiative.

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Many know him as the Godfather of Black Music, a title well-deserved and hard-earned. Yet, beyond the notes, rhythms, and melodies, Mr. Avant was so much more. He was the “Grandfather of Community”. His dedication to community progress and empowerment made waves not just in the music industry, but in the very essence of our society, from the Civil Rights movement to today’s ongoing battle for equality and justice.

We are reminded of the time he rallied behind Ambassador Andrew Young during his congressional run, not because of a longstanding relationship but from a deep-seated belief in progress and change. This unexpected and profound move exemplifies Mr. Avant’s character — lighthearted in conversation but fiercely serious about community.

His dedication to progress mirrors our mission here at Operation HOPE. We strive for community upliftment, financial literacy, and empowerment, and in many ways, Mr. Avant set the stage for such endeavors. His belief in community support, his commitment to fostering growth, and his tireless advocacy serve as inspirations for us daily.

As we mourn the loss of a titan, we also celebrate his legacy. Every song, every community initiative, every act of kindness, and every advocate inspired by Mr. Avant’s journey is a testament to his impact.

In the spirit of Clarence Avant, Operation HOPE will continue to champion community progress and pledge to keep his legacy alive in all our initiatives.

May we all remember his dedication, honor his contributions, and be inspired by his legacy. Rest in peace, Mr. Avant. Your impact will reverberate for generations to come.

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ATLANTA, June 19, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — In recognition of Juneteenth, Operation HOPE, a national nonprofit dedicated to helping low-and moderate-income Americans thrive in an ever-changing economy, today announced the launch of The 1865 Project, an initiative designed to help level the economic playing field for underserved Americans.

The 1865 Project will look to finish the work of the Freedman’s Bank— started by President Abraham Lincoln and American social reformer, Frederick Douglass— which was initially designed to teach the formerly enslaved about money. Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Operation HOPE Global Spokesperson Ambassador Andrew Young advanced this work with ‘The Poor People’s Campaign’ during the Second Reconstruction of the 1960’s. Today, as Operation HOPE continues to evolve a Third Reconstruction, it is convening the public and private sectors in a national movement to help level the playing field for Americans – of all ethnicities – so that families can thrive in a free enterprise economy. The ultimate goal is to finish the work of the Freedman’s Bank at scale, for everyone.

In 2016, Operation HOPE Founder and CEO John Hope Bryant inspired U.S. Treasury Secretary Jack Lew to rename the Treasury Annex, formerly the Freedman’s Bank headquarters, to the Freedman’s Bank Building, becoming the only American citizen to have a building renamed on the White House campus. 

“The Freedman’s Bank was the 1865 version of financial literacy for the underserved,” said Bryant. “At that moment in history, America had the opportunity to make good on a promise of not just civil and civic participation for the formerly enslaved, but economic participation as well. That bold vision never came to fruition, a challenge we want to reissue to America.”

Recognized by Fast Company as a 2023 World Changing Idea, Operation HOPE will utilize its innovative financial coaching model to connect underserved communities to the private sector. With over 250 offices nationwide, Operation HOPE is ‘America’s Financial Coach’ – the private banker to the struggling working class and overextended middle class.

With a goal of opening 1,000 offices by 2030, Operation HOPE’s mission is to expand economic opportunity in underserved communities through financial education and empowerment by offering programs that create stabilized communities and financial stakeholders.

Since its inception, Operation HOPE has:

• Served over 4 million individuals across the U.S.
• Assisted clients in accessing capital totaling more than $3.5 billion.
• Supported over 275,000 Black-owned businesses to launch, grow or scale through its One Million Black Businesses (1MBB) initiative.
• Increased client credit scores by an average of 42 points. (2022)
• Reduced client debt by an average of $1,944. (2022)
• Increased client savings by an average of $1,100. (2022)

To view the Operation HOPE 2022 Annual Impact Report, click here.

Operation HOPE serves four core constituencies:

• Youth in underserved schools.
• Low-income adults in underserved communities.
• Small business owners and entrepreneurs.
• Families who have been affected by either natural or man-made disasters.

Those interested in supporting The 1865 Project and the work of Operation HOPE can:

• Become an annual member (individual or organizational)
• Become a partner (stand up HOPE programming in your community)
• Become a HOPE Commitment Maker (stand up a community-changing commitment in your neighborhood or organization).
• Become a volunteer (mentorship, events, internships, fellowships, loaned executives)

To learn more about ‘The 1865 Project’ and how to get involved, go to operationhope.org.

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 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. For more information: OperationHOPE.org. Follow the HOPE conversation on Twitter.

CONTACT:           
Lalohni Campbell, Per Se Media Group, la@persemediagroup.com
Kevin Boucher, Operation HOPE, kevin.boucher@operationhope.org

SOURCE Operation HOPE, Inc.

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We applaud the efforts of our partners to ensure financial stability, while continuing their important work to provide banking services and financial education for all. This is another example of the private sector demonstrating leadership in addressing a public need—a stable banking system.

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Nearly $1 billion in mortgages provided to low- and- moderate income 

homebuyers through partnership through Fulton Bank

Over 169,000 Black businesses supported through partnership with Shopify

Milestone 200^th HOPE Inside location opened with Wells Fargo CEO Charlie Scharf

Atlanta, Ga. (February 6, 2023) –  Operation HOPE, a national nonprofit dedicating to helping low-and moderate income Americans thrive in an ever-changing economy, announced its top-line results for 2022. Celebrating its 30^th year, Operation HOPE continued its impressive streak of growth by expanding its national footprint of locations, growing its portfolio of top-tier partner organizations and serving a record number of clients. 

Recognized as American Banker “Innovation of the Year” in 2016, Operation HOPE uses its HOPE Inside locations to deliver no-charge financial coaching to individuals in the community or at work. Key results from 2022 include:

•  finishing at a total of 217 offices, up from 147 at the end of 2021. As a result, Operation HOPE:

• Announced that nearly $1 billion in mortgages had been secured for low- and- moderate income homebuyers through its partnership with Fulton Bank. 

• Supported more than 169,087 unique Black-owned businesses through its HOPE Inside network and 1 Million Black Businesses (1MBB) initiative partners. This accounts for approximately 5% of all Black-owned businesses in the U.S. New 2022 1MBB partners committed to the creation of an additional 200,000 Black-owned businesses. 

• Wells Fargo announced plans to introduce HOPE Inside centers in 20 markets that will serve as many as 150 Wells Fargo branches and their surrounding communities across the United States by the end of 2023. 

• Operation HOPE opened its milestone 200^th HOPE Inside location in Stone Mountain, GA as part of this partnership, which was attended by Wells Fargo CEO Charlie Scharf and Mr. Bryant. 

• Financial Wellness Index with Experian, Operation HOPE utilized this data to build a Community Credit Score Index. The Index highlights high- and low-credit score zip codes in the same city by showcasing discrepancies in earnings, social mobility, housing, education and longevity. 

• The HOPE Global Forums conducted a “special edition” Crypto Summit with U.S. Comptroller of the Currency in May, along with its flagship Annual Meeting in December, which featured record in-person attendance. Combined, the meetings were watched by over 6.2 million viewers in over 40 countries around the world.

• Bank of America and Operation HOPE announced that they will offer free financial counseling in 180 financial centers in 17 U.S. markets starting in 2023 at the HOPE Global Forums | Annual Meeting. 

• Vinebrook Homes announced was expanding its partnership with Operation HOPE to include a five-year, $1 million commitment to provide its residents across the U.S. with resources and programs to help achieve financial freedom.

• Financial Literacy for All Initiative continued to gain momentum, with top-tier organizations such as General Motors, Hershey, Dow Jones, Tyson Foods and Synchrony joining the movement to embed financial literacy into American culture. 

• ring the Nasdaq Opening Bell as part of Financial Literacy Month. Mr. Bryant did the honors in his role as Co-Chair.

A full Annual Report highlighting Operation HOPE’s impacts will be available at the end of February. 

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 community uplift model, HOPE Inside, which received the 2016 Innovator of the Year recognition by American Banker magazine, Operation HOPE has served more than 4 million individuals and directed more than $3.2 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. For more information: OperationHOPE.org. Follow the HOPE conversation on Twitter.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

ATLANTA – February 1, 2023 – Operation HOPE, Inc., the nation’s largest non-profit dedicated to financial empowerment for underserved communities, today announced that Joann Massey will be joining its Senior Leadership team as Senior Vice President of the 1 Million Black Businesses Initiative (1MBB).  

Massey most recently served as the City of Memphis’ Director of Business Diversity & Compliance. In this role, she was responsible for counseling clients on business expansions, acquisitions, procurement opportunities and navigating community and government ecosystems.  Massey is also the Founder & Principal of Lewis Massey Associates, LLC, a boutique consulting  

Firm, where she previously served in a consulting role to help build Operation HOPE’s Government Relations. 

“Joann’s track record proves that she is committed to helping business owners and advocating for economic justice,” said Brian Betts, Operation HOPE President and Chief Financial Officer. “Joann is a familiar and trusted face within the HOPE family. We welcome her to the team and look forward to supporting her efforts to grow our 1MBB initiative, which provides much-needed resources to Black businesses nationwide.”  

Massey is a recognized community leader with accolades such as the Memphis Business Journal’s Top 40 Under 40 and Leadership Memphis Executive, among others. She holds a certificate in Economic Development from Harvard University’s Executive Education Program and a Certified Compliance Administrator certification from Morgan State University.  She is also an MBA alumna of Benedictine University, where she graduated summa cum laude with a concentration in Finance. Massey holds a dual Bachelor of Business Administration and Finance degree from LeMoyne Owen College, an Historically Black College & University (HBCU).  

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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 community uplift model, HOPE Inside, which received the 2016 Innovator of the Year recognition by American Banker magazine, Operation HOPE has served more than 4 million individuals and directed more than $3.2 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 its eighth consecutive 4-star charity rating for fiscal management and commitment to transparency and accountability by the prestigious non-profit evaluator, Charity Navigator. For more information: OperationHOPE.org. Join the conversation on social media at @operationhope. 

Media Contact 

Lalohni Campbell  

Per/Se Media Group, for Operation HOPE 

la@persemediagroup.com 
 

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The updated Stone Mountain Memorial branch in DeKalb County introduced a “HOPE Inside” center and financial coach who works for the Atlanta-based nonprofit Operation HOPE. The financial coach will seek to empower community members with financial education and guidance, such as helping them improve their credit scores.  

It’s Opearion HOPE’s 200th “HOPE Inside” locaton and the first redesigned Wells Fargo branch in the U.S. to feature an Operation HOPE financial coach. It marks the beginning of the bank’s work to introduce “HOPE Inside” centers and coaches in 20 markets by the end 2023. The plan, part of Wells Fargo’s Banking Inclusion Initiative, also includes redesigning 100 branches in low- to moderate-income neighborhoods across the nation.

It’s Scharf second visit to the Atlanta area this year after he earlier announced a $20 million donation to help diverse small businesses in the city. The Stone Mountain branch in DeKalb County was chosen because it’s in one of the most diverse and fastest-growing counties in Georgia.

The urgency for financial stability is growing as residents from DeKalb County and metro Atlanta face rising inflation and greater economic challenges. According to the FDIC, about 5 percent of Atlanta metro area residents are unbanked, and the unbanked population is disproportionately Black and African American, Hispanic and Native American.

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