JOHN HOPE BRYANT is an American entrepreneur, and sought-after thought and philanthropic leader, who is referred to as the Conscience of Capitalism by leading Fortune 100 CEOs. Bryant is the Founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer of Operation HOPE, Inc. the largest not-for-profit and best-in-class provider of financial literacy, financial inclusion and economic empowerment tools and services in the United States for youth and adults. Operation HOPE is working to level the opportunity playing field, connecting communities to the private sector, through inclusive capitalism, at scale.Bryant is also Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of John Hope Bryant Holdings, Bryant Group Ventures and Executive Chairman of The Promise Homes Company (Promise Homes), the largest for-profit minority-controlled owner of institutional-quality, single-family residential rental homes in the U.S.

• Foreword ixPrologue xiiiIntroduction: America’s Upgraded Business Plan 1Dreams, Decisions, and Destinies 9Section I What’s the Issue and Why Should We Care? 27Chapter 1 Credit Is a Tool, Not a Toy 29Chapter 2 The Civil Rights Issue of Our Generation 35Section II How Did We Get Here? Aka Stories of Broken Capitalism 47Chapter 3 Broken Capitalism and the Black and Brown People of America 49Chapter 4 How Poor Whites Got Left Behind 67Chapter 5 Losing Focus on the Goal: Financial Freedom 73Chapter 6 The American Dream Deferred 79Section III Empowerment Through Education 93Chapter 7 Breaking the Chains: From Fast Money to Lasting Legacy 95Chapter 8 Educating Our Kids 99Chapter 9 Educating Our Communities 111Chapter 10 Educating Our Entrepreneurs 121Chapter 11 Educating Our Workforce 133Chapter 12 Elevating Credit Scores and Empowering Dreams 143Section IV It’s a Movement, Not a Moment 151Chapter 13 Empowerment Through Education 153Chapter 14 Join the Movement 161Conclusion: A Ladder for All 165Epilogue 171Financial Literacy Resources 177The Financial Literacy for All Initiative 183Acknowledgments 189About The Author 195Index 199

JOHN HOPE BRYANT is an American entrepreneur, and sought-after thought and philanthropic leader, who is referred to as the Conscience of Capitalism by leading Fortune 100 CEOs. Bryant is the Founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer of Operation HOPE, Inc. the largest not-for-profit and best-in-class provider of financial literacy, financial inclusion and economic empowerment tools and services in the United States for youth and adults. Operation HOPE is working to level the opportunity playing field, connecting communities to the private sector, through inclusive capitalism, at scale.Bryant is also Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of John Hope Bryant Holdings, Bryant Group Ventures and Executive Chairman of The Promise Homes Company (Promise Homes), the largest for-profit minority-controlled owner of institutional-quality, single-family residential rental homes in the U.S.

• Foreword ixPrologue xiiiIntroduction: America’s Upgraded Business Plan 1Dreams, Decisions, and Destinies 9Section I What’s the Issue and Why Should We Care? 27Chapter 1 Credit Is a Tool, Not a Toy 29Chapter 2 The Civil Rights Issue of Our Generation 35Section II How Did We Get Here? Aka Stories of Broken Capitalism 47Chapter 3 Broken Capitalism and the Black and Brown People of America 49Chapter 4 How Poor Whites Got Left Behind 67Chapter 5 Losing Focus on the Goal: Financial Freedom 73Chapter 6 The American Dream Deferred 79Section III Empowerment Through Education 93Chapter 7 Breaking the Chains: From Fast Money to Lasting Legacy 95Chapter 8 Educating Our Kids 99Chapter 9 Educating Our Communities 111Chapter 10 Educating Our Entrepreneurs 121Chapter 11 Educating Our Workforce 133Chapter 12 Elevating Credit Scores and Empowering Dreams 143Section IV It’s a Movement, Not a Moment 151Chapter 13 Empowerment Through Education 153Chapter 14 Join the Movement 161Conclusion: A Ladder for All 165Epilogue 171Financial Literacy Resources 177The Financial Literacy for All Initiative 183Acknowledgments 189About The Author 195Index 199

JOHN HOPE BRYANT is an American entrepreneur, and sought-after thought and philanthropic leader, who is referred to as the Conscience of Capitalism by leading Fortune 100 CEOs. Bryant is the Founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer of Operation HOPE, Inc. the largest not-for-profit and best-in-class provider of financial literacy, financial inclusion and economic empowerment tools and services in the United States for youth and adults. Operation HOPE is working to level the opportunity playing field, connecting communities to the private sector, through inclusive capitalism, at scale.Bryant is also Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of John Hope Bryant Holdings, Bryant Group Ventures and Executive Chairman of The Promise Homes Company (Promise Homes), the largest for-profit minority-controlled owner of institutional-quality, single-family residential rental homes in the U.S.

• Foreword ixPrologue xiiiIntroduction: America’s Upgraded Business Plan 1Dreams, Decisions, and Destinies 9Section I What’s the Issue and Why Should We Care? 27Chapter 1 Credit Is a Tool, Not a Toy 29Chapter 2 The Civil Rights Issue of Our Generation 35Section II How Did We Get Here? Aka Stories of Broken Capitalism 47Chapter 3 Broken Capitalism and the Black and Brown People of America 49Chapter 4 How Poor Whites Got Left Behind 67Chapter 5 Losing Focus on the Goal: Financial Freedom 73Chapter 6 The American Dream Deferred 79Section III Empowerment Through Education 93Chapter 7 Breaking the Chains: From Fast Money to Lasting Legacy 95Chapter 8 Educating Our Kids 99Chapter 9 Educating Our Communities 111Chapter 10 Educating Our Entrepreneurs 121Chapter 11 Educating Our Workforce 133Chapter 12 Elevating Credit Scores and Empowering Dreams 143Section IV It’s a Movement, Not a Moment 151Chapter 13 Empowerment Through Education 153Chapter 14 Join the Movement 161Conclusion: A Ladder for All 165Epilogue 171Financial Literacy Resources 177The Financial Literacy for All Initiative 183Acknowledgments 189About The Author 195Index 199