In partnership with local and national organizations, Operation HOPE’s team of financial wellbeing coaches is offering immediate assistance and tools to support long-term stability.

Available Services Include:

• Financial counseling
• Credit and money management counseling
• Emergency budget preparation
• Assistance negotiating and working with creditors
• Foreclosure prevention
• Financial management workshops

The shutdown has placed severe stress on some of the country’s most vulnerable populations. With programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) facing disruption and many employee paychecks on hold, the impact is felt most deeply by households already living paycheck to paycheck, as well as by families with children, seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income communities.

Recognizing that the financial fallout will extend far beyond the immediate effects, Operation HOPE is stepping in to provide stabilization and planning support for those most in need.

If you or someone you know has been financially affected by the shutdown, help is available now.

Connect with a HOPE financial wellness coach today or call 1-888-388-HOPE (4673) for assistance.

The post Hope Is On The Way: Operation HOPE Offers Relief to Families Impacted by Federal Government Shutdown appeared first on Operation HOPE.

The positive outcomes of affordable housing

With increased access to affordable housing, benefits include better physical and mental health, financial stability, better school and development outcomes for children, and more stable neighborhoods. Perhaps the most intriguing benefit in today’s financial landscape is to our economy—to the tune of adding nearly $2 trillion to GDP, according to McKinsey’s Institute for Economic Mobility.

In their 2025 Investing in Housing report, investing in the housing shortage “and economic activity in housing-related sectors (for example, construction) and related supply chains” would “create nearly two million new jobs across sectors—gains that would materialize gradually over the next ten years.” Not only could the future provide more hope for homeownership, it could ensure a more stable economy that benefits all

Big picture growth starts with the individual

With Operation HOPE’s Homeownership program, we help potential homeowners overcome common barriers. Examples include increasing credit scores, awareness of financial assistance programs, as well as debt management and savings strategies. Through one-on-one financial coaching, tools, and workshops, we tailor our support to meet the diverse needs of our clients.

Leanne is a great example of many clients who go to the bank thinking they are mortgage-ready but are denied due to their credit report. Her Financial Wellbeing Coach, Lester Watt, encouraged her to participate in the organization’s Credit and Money Management and Homeownership programs, where he worked with her to put this newfound knowledge of credit-building into practice.

Together, they completed a worksheet that detailed her income and expenses in order to create a budget. At the same time, they sought to eliminate her debt in a way that felt manageable. For Leanne, that was paying off the credit cards with the lowest balance first, and then working her way up to tackling debt on the higher balance cards. Over 13 months of working with Lester, she saw her credit score rise by 121 points.

Today, Leanne can speak to the importance of homeownership in her daily life, her children’s lives, and her community: “When you are financially stable, you have a greater appreciation for what you have. Look, I have a roof over my head, the lights are on, most of my needs are met so I like to see who I can take out to dinner. I may see someone who needs gas money or something and I’m in a position where I can do it.” She explained that her new money mindset has led to less purchases that don’t bring her joy. “Slowing down and creating an atmosphere that makes you value home-cooked meals—it plays so much a part in daily living. It changed my life and my children’s too.”

Strategic partnerships, like ours with Clayton, make the path more accessible

Leanne is just one of more than 14,000 individuals who have benefited from HOPE’s Homeownership program. Since 2022, when Operation HOPE first began its partnership with single-family home builder, Clayton, the program has equipped clients with the education and financial resources needed to achieve their dream of owning a home. Importantly, working with Clayton allowed us to help over 300 people achieve homeownership in 2024 alone. This work doesn’t end after the home is purchased—our Financial Wellbeing coaches ensure their clients can sustain that major step by saving for home repairs and updates, budgeting for mortgage payments, and learning how to prepare financially for a major disaster.

Clayton’s partnership helps us continue the work we’ve been doing and has empowered Operation HOPE to introduce new digital offerings of self-guided homeownership education, making financial literacy instantly available to more people. Digital access, like our HOPE in Hand app, has been crucial to reach people across the nation, no matter where they live or where they are in their journey toward financial freedom.

As we continue our valued partnership with Clayton, we look toward making homeownership a reality for more families across the country, at any financial starting point. Having more attainable options, as celebrated in Housing America Month, is the first step—then Operation HOPE walks alongside them the rest of the way.

If you are looking to start this journey, go to OperationHope.org to sign up with a coach or register for our workshops.

The post From HOPE to Homes: Why We Celebrate ‘Housing America Month’ appeared first on Operation HOPE.

“The first meeting was tough,” said Danna. “After sharing my complete financial history, I had to do something I’d tried to avoid my entire life—grapple with my spending patterns and the money decisions I’d made over the years.”

This is the first, and often the hardest step for Operation HOPE clients. “So often, clients simply do not know what they need to know to make good financial decisions. For example, most clients have never been shown how to create a budget that includes listing their rainy day and emergency fund contributions as recurring expenses. Once Danna understood that she had to budget savings as a recurring monthly expense, she was able to meet her down payment goal while putting away funds for unplanned expenses,” said Penny.

Once Danna had implemented a plan to reallocate more of her income toward repaying debt, she turned to Operation HOPE again for assistance on building assets that would help ensure her long-term financial security: starting a business and owning a home. Homeownership had always been a priority but the COVID-19 pandemic forced her to switch up her goals. In 2020, she founded her own private practice to help meet the increased need for mental health services for young people in her community. Operation HOPE hosted a number of entrepreneurship workshops that guided Danna—helping her figure out which business tasks she could handle and which ones were better left to an expert.

As home prices went through the roof in the aftermath of the pandemic, Danna could only watch as her dream of owning a home got farther out of her reach. With Penny’s guidance, Danna took that extra time to learn about home ownership, and Operation HOPE referred her to community resources like down payment assistance and mortgage companies so that, when the right place came along in 2022, she was prepared to make an offer. Danna was thrilled when the seller accepted the offer—making her a homeowner!

Three years since her first meeting with Penny, Danna reflects on how far she has come. It started with taking the brave step of confronting her financial history and making a plan to change. While her family didn’t talk about money, let alone entrepreneurship and building wealth, she carries their legacy in ways that are meaningful to her today. For example, her maiden name is featured prominently in her business LLC as a nod to her paternal grandfather. While he made it seem to Danna like he was “just going to a job,” she recently made the connection that he was a full-fledged entrepreneur as the founder and owner of a janitorial service.

Danna believes that without Penny’s help, she’d still be stuck in her old ways. Now she’s on a mission to destigmatize candid financial conversations, taking every opportunity to share the ups and downs of her journey with clients, as well as her own family, so they too can take control of their financial futures. Danna regularly refers them to Operation HOPE. In fact, her oldest daughter worked with Penny while in college and since graduation, she’s getting a head-start on building wealth and developing a plan to pay for medical school.

Things look bright for Danna—she has recently expanded her business and hopes to publish more books to add to the one she wrote during COVID. Danna is building a legacy her family can be proud of.

For more information: OperationHOPE.org. Follow the HOPE conversation on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn.  

The post Raising Your Hand for Financial Guidance is an Act of Bravery appeared first on Operation HOPE.

Initially, Sherrie’s vision was that she’d fold these two business concepts into one brand. “In my mind, Naturally Illustrated and the Coloring Museum were one and the same,” she said. However, when it came to detailing her vision in a formal business plan, she floundered. “I had multiple businesses in one business plan and I was not thinking at that moment that that’s what it was. So it was very confusing and I think I was getting frustrated because people couldn’t understand what my business was,” she added.

A referral by local entrepreneur Tafari Roberts (read Tafari’s story here) connected Sherrie to Brooke Ratliff, Small Business Coach at Operation HOPE, for a new perspective on her dilemma. Sherrie valued Brooke’s candid feedback, which was shared in a way that felt constructive.

“I appreciate her and everyone else who’s been very patient with me as I’m pushing back. It’s a delicate balance being an entrepreneur because at the end of the day, especially in the beginning stages, you want to listen, you want to receive information so you can be better, but by the same token, you need to be confident about what you’re doing.”

Ultimately, Sherrie acknowledged that while Naturally Illustrated inspired the Coloring Museum, it was best to separate the concepts into two distinct businesses.

For entrepreneurs who are looking for a fresh perspective to grow their business, Sherrie’s journey offers four valuable lessons:

Lesson 1: Clarity is a Business Imperative
Like many entrepreneurs, Sherrie found herself with a business plan that was more of a patchwork quilt than a clear roadmap. Although she could see the vision clearly, potential partners and mentors struggled to grasp it.

This is a critical takeaway: if others can’t understand your business in its most simple form, it becomes harder to gain support, secure funding, or build a loyal customer base.

Lesson 2: It’s Okay to Pivot—Even Late in the Game
Sherrie launched Naturally Illustrated in 2016. It wasn’t until 2023—seven years later—that the proverbial lightbulb fully clicked.

Entrepreneurs often feel pressure to get everything right at the start. Sherrie’s journey proves that evolution is not only natural but necessary. Each event, business workshop, and competition—even the ones that felt like a waste at the time—played a role in refining her vision. Everything that she went through helped shape her business into what it is now.

Lesson 3: Marketing Matters as Much as Product
A powerful learning moment came for Sherrie when she watched other entrepreneurs struggle despite having amazing products. Passion and creativity are important—but they need to be matched by a thoughtful strategy for reaching customers.

Lesson 4: Seek Mentors Who Will Provide Honest Feedback
Brooke became more than a mentor; she became part of Sherrie’s informal advisory board. Honest guidance, encouragement, and directness helped Sherrie step into her role as a confident businesswoman. She also pays it forward, offering support to fellow entrepreneurs who may be feeling lost or overwhelmed.

As Sherrie reflects on her entrepreneurial journey, she’s gratified to know that she’s not just running a business, she’s revitalizing a community: The Coloring Museum is being constructed on the same spot as a hardware store she used to visit with her grandfather in Detroit’s Grandmont Rosedale neighborhood. Sherrie is also launching a 26-foot Coloring Truck to bring the museum experience on the road.

Sherrie’s story is a testament to perseverance, flexibility, and the power of mentorship. For any entrepreneur feeling stuck, confused, or ready to give up: know that the path to growth often runs through the struggle.

For more information: OperationHOPE.org. Follow the HOPE conversation on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn.  

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How Are You Future Proofing? Preparing Today for a Stronger Tomorrow

The future doesn’t wait but we can prepare for it.

As we approach the 2025 HOPE Global Forums Annual Meeting, taking place December 1–3 in Atlanta, our theme, “Future Proofing“, invites each of us to take a closer look at how we’re building readiness and resilience in our own lives.

Future Proofing is about more than protection. It’s about positioning. It means equipping individuals, families, and communities to embrace change and excel through it.

What Future Proofing Looks Like

Future Proofing might look different for everyone, but it always begins with preparation and possibility.

Here are a few ways people are taking action today:

• Building emergency savings to cover unexpected expenses or disruptions.
• Completing an Emergency Financial First Aid Kit (EFFAK) to safeguard vital documents before a disaster strikes.
• Strengthening financial literacy to understand digital currencies like Bitcoin better, explore investing, or make smarter financial decisions.
• Learning about AI and emerging technologies, and developing new skills to stay competitive in the changing job market.
• Using modern media, like podcasts, live streams, and social platforms, to educate, connect, and lead conversations that shape the future.
• Reimagining the old, blending tradition and innovation to carry forward timeless wisdom through new tools and approaches.

Whether it’s saving $500 for emergencies, starting a small business, mentoring someone in your community, or learning a new skill online every action is a step toward a more resilient and opportunity-rich future.

Your Turn: Share How You’re Future Proofing

We want to hear from you.

How are you preparing for the future in your home, your workplace, or your neighborhood?
What small (or big) steps are you taking today to build a stronger tomorrow?

Tell us your story in the comments below and see how others are building resilience across the country.

The Bigger Picture: Future Proofing as Collective Opportunity

Future Proofing is about participation in the tech-forward economy.

Each of us has a role in building what comes next.
When we prepare individually, we strengthen our families.
When families strengthen, communities rise.
And when communities rise, opportunity expands for everyone.

That’s the spirit of Future Proofing and that’s what we’re building together.

Join the conversation and join us this December in Atlanta as we explore how to Future Proof our communities together.

Request an Invitation to HOPE Global Forums 2025

The post How Are You Future Proofing? Preparing Today for a Stronger Tomorrow appeared first on Operation HOPE.

It’s that same spirit that drew her to Operation HOPE Small Business Coach Nicole Escalera, who guided her through the organization’s One Million Black Businesses (1MBB) program. Xiomara recognized in Nicole someone who has a strong “care factor” like she does. Nicole isn’t satisfied with just checking a box that her clients completed a module or a task—she’s determined to help them create lasting change through entrepreneurship.

“At first I just wanted to create a business plan so I could have one and get it over with. But as the questions kept coming, I was like, ‘you know what? Let me put thought into this. Let me not just finish this because it needs to be done. Let me…use it for me,’” Xiomara said.

With Nicole’s support, Xiomara applied her newfound knowledge from the 1MBB program to make her business plan a dynamic document that would articulate her company’s vision and growth strategy. Through this process, Xiomara realized her dream was to expand her spa into a larger property.

But she wasn’t sure where to start when it came to borrowing the money required to fund her expansion goals. “I wasn’t clear on where and how to proceed. I didn’t have a clear vision of the things that needed to be implemented in the business in order to justify borrowing this money,” she said.

Enter Nicole once again. In addition to helping Xiomara define an overarching vision for the company, Nicole brought connections and expertise to give her practical hands-on knowledge to make her dream a reality.

For example, Nicole advised Xiomara to open a business account for her spa and tapped her extensive network where Xiomara was able to secure personal funding. Now the business banking specialist is preparing Xiomara with the products that she needs to secure the expansion funding. When the loan is finalized, Nicole will coach Xiomara on how to effectively apply and manage the new funding to achieve her expansion goals and partner her up with a business mentor via the 1MBB program.

Xiomara also turns to Nicole to find new ways to grow foot traffic in her existing storefront. In fact, Nicole went so far as to sit down with Xiomara to analyze her online marketing plan and determine the best days and time of engagement. In just three months, her incoming leads from Google increased by 20%.

“I would have never known about any of this stuff if it wasn’t for her—her connections, her willingness to call me to see how the business is doing. Nicole listened when I told her what I was going through and would say, ‘Okay, I think you could benefit from this. I think you could benefit from that.’ She doesn’t give up and neither do I, so we make a great team,” said Xiomara.

Today, Xiomara’s vision extends far beyond her own success. With Operation HOPE and Coach Nicole Escalera by her side, she continues to dream bigger, grow stronger, and inspire others to pursue their own paths to success. What began as a small daytime spa has blossomed into a thriving business—and a beacon of empowerment, resilience, and community care. For Xiomara, this is only the beginning of a legacy built on passion, purpose, and possibility.

For more information: OperationHOPE.org. Follow the HOPE conversation on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn.  

The post More Than Skin Deep: Entrepreneur and Operation HOPE Share the “Care Factor” appeared first on Operation HOPE.

His professional and personal experiences served as the inspiration for the formation of the nonprofit, the Georgia Higher Arts and Technology Training Institute. It’s a space where community members in Fulton County, Georgia, can come together to learn new skills, build confidence and develop positive relationships. “I had a successful career as an audio-visual (AV) technician,” he said. “Having a specialized skill like AV to fall back on during the ups and downs meant I had a steady stream of income over the years. That’s what we’re trying to do here. We want to expose young people to opportunities to develop a craft so they can have a lucrative career as an employee or entrepreneur.”

Dr. Johnson—who recently received his Doctorate in Christian Counseling—couples the Institute’s career skills curriculum with his other passions: martial arts and counseling. As a Grandmaster in martial arts, he firmly believes in its power to teach self-discipline and resilience. “We have strong men in our organization that love helping kids. Some kids are on the spectrum and I’m so proud to see the progress they’ve made. In fact, one of our members with Autism is close to getting their black belt.” Using the principles he’s learned from being a church Deacon and accredited Christian counselor, Dr. Johnson also mentors young adults who don’t have strong role models in their lives and are looking for guidance.

Bolstered by his faith, Dr. Johnson’s “will” to serve his community was clear, however the “way” to achieve his goals was not. In-person instruction enabled Dr. Johnson and his volunteers to develop enduring relationships with at-risk community members, but that meant that he needed to create a network of spaces where classes could be reliably held. Enter Operation HOPE’s Small Business Coach, Linden Jackson. Mr. Jackson encouraged his long-time friend to join the organization’s eight-week Small Business Development program, which emphasized the importance of developing local partnerships and applying for government contracts. “I don’t meet any strangers,” Dr. Johnson chuckled. “I started going to different events and meeting new people, and when I shared my vision for the Institute, the community showed up.

The Institute has been recognized for its great work in the community—to the tune of $180,000 in county and federal grants. Operation HOPE’s Mr. Jackson assisted Dr. Johnson with the grant application process by introducing him to senior county executives who could share more details about the various grants. For Mr. Jackson the grand opening of Dr. Johnson’s own center in South Fulton was a pride-filled moment. Attended by community leaders, including South Fulton Mayor Khalid Kamau and his staff as well as Atlanta’s leading radio station, V-103, the ribbon cutting was the moment he realized that “we did the work and it paid off well.”

Today, the Institute serves 250 people per week, who fan out across the county to attend classes at senior centers, county recreation centers and church multipurpose rooms, in addition to the organization’s own space in South Fulton. Dr. Johnson has big plans for the future, and it’s the stories of how the Institute is making a difference in people’s lives that keeps him driving forward.

For more information: OperationHOPE.org. Follow the HOPE conversation on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn.  

The post Retiree Leans on God’s “Will” and Operation HOPE’s “Way” to Serve Community appeared first on Operation HOPE.

I was recently interviewed by ABC News’ Janai Norman to discuss troubling new data on Black homeownership. The Financial Times found that Black Americans are almost twice as likely to be turned away for mortgages as white applicants with the same income. LendingTree reported similar numbers—Black applicants nationwide are 1.7% more likely to be denied.

The truth is, this isn’t just about today’s underwriting decisions. It’s about a 175-year hangover from systemic discrimination in banking and housing. From the failure of the Freedman’s Bank after Lincoln’s assassination to redlining in the 20th century, too many families were locked out of wealth-building through homeownership. And because financial literacy was never taught widely in our communities, that gap persists.

But here’s what I know: credit is everything. Nothing changes your life faster, outside of God or love, than raising your credit score. We’ve mapped every ZIP code in America and found 200-point differences between neighborhoods just minutes apart. That spread translates into more than access to loans. It impacts the businesses you see, the restaurants you eat at, and even life expectancy. Yes, life expectancy!

At Operation HOPE, we are raising credit scores, lowering debt, and building savings—helping families become mortgage-ready and bridging the gap between “unqualified” and “qualified.” Our HOPE coaches aren’t lowering standards; rather, they’re raising competency. That sounds good on the surface and is worthy of applause and admiration. But the real impact is that it equates to billions of dollars in homeownership capital unlocked for families once told “no.”

Homeownership is still the number one wealth-building tool in America. Closing the homeownership gap isn’t just a moral imperative, but also an economic one. As I often say, my rich friends need my poor friends to do better, if only to stay rich.

Again, we’re not trying to change the fundamentals of the game. We’re working to make it more just, equitable, and fair so that others can access the system and begin building wealth.  Let’s start counting rent payments, utilities, and other real-world data that shows responsibility. Let’s fix the system’s inputs so every qualified family can access the American Dream.

The gap is big, but the solution is simple: education, credit, and opportunity. And with the right coaching, we can get there together.

Watch my ABC interview here.

The post Closing the Gap in Black Homeownership appeared first on Operation HOPE.

Atlanta showed out. A record crowd, 25,000+ strong, packed InvestFest this weekend, proving (again) that when knowledge meets access, people move. Our closing-session fireside chat, moderated by Dr. Jatali Bellanton, was fast, practical, and all heart. We talked ladders from idea → income → assets → ownership, then brought four rising founders on stage to put that playbook to work.

On stage, I made a real-time call to back all four finalists, and I want to be crystal clear about what that means. Each founder will receive an Operation HOPE 1MBB support package valued at up to $25,000 in resources (personalized small-business coaching, training, and services). This is not a cash grant; it’s hands-on help designed to shorten the distance from hustle to holdings. In addition, I personally gifted $5,000 cash to each founder to put gas in the tank right now. Our team has followed up directly with each winner for onboarding details.

The 2025 finalists

Emmanuella Altidor — Belle Vue Enterprise: Black-owned Georgia real-estate developer building attainable, quality homes on under-utilized land.

Alfred Milan — Express Wages: On-demand wage access to reduce reliance on payday loans.

Toy Demmings — LoveJoy Relationship & Wellness: Holistic coaching for high achievers and caregivers; building a flagship program and recurring model.

Nakeita Stewart — Nakeita Stewart Consulting: Clarity-driven fractional executive services for small teams.

Notable voices, shared mission

InvestFest’s lineup reminded us that excellence compounds when we learn in public. Earvin “Magic” Johnson brought the house down with timeless moves on building, holding, and knowing when to sell. Steve Harvey and Jack Dorsey added their perspectives on leadership, entrepreneurship, and the future of money. This festival stays special because it blends pop culture with real playbooks people can run on Monday morning.

A moment with Dr. Bernice A. King

I was honored to welcome Dr. Bernice A. King as my personal guest. The standing ovation said it all. Her work to carry forward her father’s legacy, rooted in dignity, justice, and community, reminds us why inclusive economics is more than a headline; it’s a heritage and a responsibility.

A 12-year-old with a pro rig

Backstage, a 12-year-old photographer named Myles was shooting like a pro. I invited him to capture moments at our HOPE Global Forums in December (with guardian consent and the right support, of course). Talent is ageless; opportunity should be, too.

What’s next—your next move

• Founders & small-business owners: Get matched with a HOPE coach and apply to 1MBB.
• Individuals & families: Build your credit, budget, and savings, one disciplined step at a time.
• Everyone: Follow the Money & Wealth podcast for weekly “Wealth Work” you can do now.

We don’t need a miracle. We need a plan, a coach, and discipline, and a community that believes enough to act. Thank you, InvestFest, for the belief and the action.

The post InvestFest 2025: From Hustle to Ownership—Four Founders Backed, A Community Energized appeared first on Operation HOPE.

The campaign, titled “From Hustle to Holdings: A Black Wealth Blueprint,” is designed to inspire, educate, and empower. Its core message? Turning hustle into long-term holdings. It’s about giving side hustlers, small business owners, and aspiring entrepreneurs the financial tools they need to not only survive, but thrive, and to pass on wealth for generations to come.

Why This Campaign Matters

For too long, Black entrepreneurs have faced systemic barriers to building wealth, from limited access to capital and credit to structural inequities in housing, education, and employment. Yet, time and again, the community has shown resilience, ingenuity, and determination to succeed.

“Economic empowerment isn’t just about making money, but it’s about making money work for you,” says John Hope Bryant. “When we turn our hustle into holdings, we create a foundation for generational wealth that transforms families and communities.”

This campaign builds on Operation HOPE’s mission: to expand economic opportunity, advance financial literacy, and empower underserved communities to succeed in the free enterprise system. By partnering with iHeart during Black Business Month, we’re bringing these vital conversations to an even wider audience.

Four Weeks, Four Themes: The Wealth Work

Throughout August, iHeart is rolling out a four-week content series called The Wealth Work, with each week focusing on a key pillar of wealth-building.

Week 1: The Foundation
Credit, mindset, and financial literacy are the building blocks of wealth. In this week’s content, John breaks down why “credit is queen” and how your mindset can be your greatest asset, or your biggest obstacle. Listeners will learn practical steps for building and protecting credit while cultivating discipline to make informed financial decisions.

Week 2: The Hustle
It’s one thing to have a skill or passion, it’s another to turn it into a sustainable income stream. This week focuses on transforming skills into side businesses or small enterprises, exploring the early stages of entrepreneurship and what it takes to go from idea to income.

Week 3: The Strategy
Wealth isn’t built overnight, it’s the result of smart planning and consistent action. In week three, John dives into saving, investing, and scaling a business. He explores how to create a financial plan, identify investment opportunities, and know when, and how, to grow.

Week 4: The Legacy
True wealth is generational. In the final week, the conversation shifts to ownership, estate planning, and passing down assets. As John often says, “You don’t have to be rich to leave a rich legacy.” This week is about making decisions today that will benefit your family and community tomorrow.

Interactive & Engaging

Beyond the weekly themes, the campaign features quick, digestible content like “1-Minute Money Moves”—short clips of John delivering practical wealth-building tips in under a minute. Topics include “Own or Be Owned” and “LLCs & Legacy.”

There’s also an “Ask John” feature on Instagram Stories and LinkedIn, where followers can submit their biggest money or business questions. Selected questions will be answered directly by John in video or audio responses, making this campaign as interactive as it is informative.

Amplifying the Message

Operation HOPE will be sharing highlights from the campaign all month long across our social channels. We encourage you to follow, share, and most importantly, put these lessons into action.

This is more than content; it’s a movement. Every episode, clip, and post is an opportunity for someone to learn a new strategy, change a financial habit, or take the first step toward building a business or creating generational wealth.

The Bigger Picture

While Black Business Month is a moment to celebrate, it’s also a reminder of the work still to be done. The racial wealth gap remains a stark reality. According to the Federal Reserve, the median wealth of Black households is roughly one-tenth that of white households. Closing this gap requires intentional effort, from policymakers, businesses, communities, and individuals.

That’s where initiatives like From Hustle to Holdings come in. By combining the reach of iHeartMedia with the expertise and passion of John Hope Bryant and Operation HOPE, we’re able to equip millions with the knowledge and tools they need to rewrite their financial future.

Join the Movement

Here’s how you can get involved:

• Listen & Learn: Follow Money & Wealth wherever you get your podcasts and catch the themed episodes each week in August.
• Engage: Participate in the “Ask John” feature and share your questions.
• Apply the Lessons: Use the tips from the campaign to start building your own path from hustle to holdings.
• Share: Help spread the word by sharing the content on your own social media channels.

As John says, “We can’t just wish for a better future, we have to work for it.” This Black Business Month, let’s work together to ensure that hustle turns into holdings, and ambition turns into generational impact.

The post From Hustle to Holdings: A Black Wealth Blueprint appeared first on Operation HOPE.