Contributed by HOPE Volunteer Tiana Allen
Monday December 11th 2023
The HOPE Global Forums completes its 2nd day of discussions. These open forums that Chairman Bryant cleverly calls “meetings,” invite corporate partners, financial specialists, small business leaders, and community advocates to the table to talk about the problems that plague our neighborhoods and brainstorm some concepts to consider that might create equitable solutions.
The key word for the day was “access.”
“We cannot have a solution if we don’t address the underlining issues themselves” shares Dr. Helene Gayle President of Spelman College
Some of the session panels for the December 11th meeting included “The Case for Optimism,” “Decoding Work,” “Community Investments,” “Strategies for Social Mobility,” “Defining Wellbeing,” and “Small Business Beyond Borders.” Panelists in these meetings shared insight, on how to implement programming for these solutions, and do the work that is required to make it all come together.
Deborah Lam, a work force development specialist and Pin Georgia highlights a key element necessary to providing access to resources for job opportunities by way of paid internships for college students and graduates. “It’s hard to get job without experience, and it’s hard to have experience without a job,” mentions Lam. “We should also teach graduates how to get out of debt within the first year of graduation.”
Operation HOPE’s “HOPE Inside” initiatives offer programming for financial literacy and debt relief, but Brian Peckrill, executive director of William G. McGowan Charitable Fund, included a thought-provoking suggestion that begins with changing financial behaviors through outreach. “All our grant making,” he states, “won’t undo a financial collapse.” His tactile approach brings MBA students to homeless shelters in Chicago in order to give students hands on experience in hopes to increase the mindset of community-based philanthropy while teaching new skills, and lean new financial behaviors.
Community Advocate and media mogul Charlamane The God concurs with this sentiment stating “My mission is to be of service. If it’s just about me, it’s not big enough.”
The day ended on an optimistic note that pleaded the case for how and where “access to resources” would generate. The answer is within the notion of the community leaning on itself by way of the people living in it.
“Black and brown communities are innovators. But if the innovators don’t have the money there will be no mobility. Yes, there is money in our community, but it all boils down to education and access. Unfortunately, half of the people in our community aren’t even aware that they are credit investors,” states Felix Chevalier co-founder of the Urban Capital Network. “We have to stick together because we understand each other” adds Storehouse founder Tamira Chapman.
Mayor Dickens concludes on this note stating “This southern city of Atlanta operates bigger than its weight class.” This meaning that the city’s ability to thrive in any area, is dependent on the participation of community support, which holds the key to access.