2010-02-09 01:33:17 -

Latvia's President Valdis Zatlers invited HOPE Founder, Chairman, CEO and bestselling author and economic thought leader John Hope Bryant to give a guest lecture at the University of Latvia on February 8, 2010 and share principles of HOPE, Global Dignity and leadership based on love.

Bryant's appearance in Latvia's capital is a part of an ongoing lecture series " Lectures by World Leaders : " initiated by the President of Latvia.

"It was my great pleasure and honor to introduce John Hope Bryant as a guest speaker at the 'Lectures by World Leaders' series. I first met Mr.

Bryant at the World Economic Forum in Dalian, China where we discussed, on the same panel, the consequences of the recession and

the changes we should make in our thinking. I invited him to Latvia because he stands for what is crucial to our society now - hope, vision and determination.
I am sure that Mr. Bryant's personal experience, his principles and vision encouraged the audience to think about the values that can lead us out of the current economic difficulties," said the President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers.

Bryant, who accepted the invitation during his participation at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland earlier this year, is an active participant of the Forum's subsidiary of exceptional young leaders, the Forum of Young Global Leaders (YGLs), advocates dignity and financial literacy or "silver rights" as the next civil rights issue tied to improving the world economy. In an interview shortly before the lecture, Bryant stated his overall objective to make capitalism and free enterprise relevant to the poor and working class and ultimately to make capitalism actually work for the poor, working class and middle class, too. (View the teaser for the Diena.lv interview here < www.diena.lv/lat/multimediji/dienatv/politika/video-braients-si- .. : >).

"It is a pleasure and important work to promote, advocate, and help advance principles of 'silver rights' and Global Dignity," said Bryant.

"The principles are a globally shared vision, aligned with Operation HOPE's efforts to empower each individual to believe in his or her fundamental right to dignity, respect, and freedom, and right to access resources and ultimately, to have the necessary tools to make their own decisions in life."


Bryant also discussed the secret to his business success: "Love Leadership." Bryant's philosophy is outlined in his recent business best seller, LOVE LEADERSHIP: The New Way to Lead in a Fear-Based World, and reveals his five core values of love-based leadership as a key for succeeding in business and makes the case that the best way to get ahead is to figure out what you have to give. In addition to addressing the core values from his book, Bryant spoke to the audience about his social investment nonprofit Operation HOPE, which has empowered more than 1.2 million individuals in financial literacy and the "language of money."

The lecture series, which was developed by Latvia's President in accord with the University of Latvia, invites world leaders from a variety of backgrounds to speak on a variety of current affairs topics. The aim is to allow academics, members of the intelligentsia and representatives of the media in Latvia to attend lectures delivered by distinguished leaders from various sectors in the world - people who can offer a broader view of global economic, political and social matters. Past speakers include Prof. Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum.

About John Hope Bryant


John Bryant is a co-founder of Global Dignity with Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, Professor Pekka Himanen, University of Art and Design Helsinki and Visiting Professor at Oxford University. He is a recognized world authority on financial issues whose work to eradicate poverty led to the creation of the U.S. President's Advisory Council on Financial Literacy and earned him a role as vice-chairman. He has garnered more than 400 awards and citations, including the Use Your Life Award from Oprah Winfrey. He was named a "Community Hero" by People Magazine and selected by TIME Magazine as one of "America's 50 Most Promising Leaders of the Future." Today, Bryant also serves on the CEO Panel for USA Today Newspaper and writes regularly for the Huffington Post. For more about John Hope Bryant visit www.johnhopebryant.com. :

About Operation HOPE, Inc.

Operation HOPE is America's leading nonprofit social investment banking and financial literacy empowerment organization. With more than 400 private sector partners, 1500 nonprofit organizations and schools, and 100 government partners in 69 major U.S. cities as well as South Africa, HOPE has raised more than $500 million in its pursuit of educating, assisting and inspiring the next generation of global stakeholders.

Through international initiatives and its three principal programs, Banking on Our Future (teaching school children about money), HOPE Coalition America (Mortgage HOPE Crisis Hotline, 1-888-388-HOPE, financial emergency preparedness and disaster relief), and Walk-In HOPE Centers (loans, computer literacy, understanding banking principles), Operation HOPE has delivered services to more than one million low-wealth individuals and assumed the responsibility of piloting the Silver Rights Movement towards making free enterprise and capitalism relevant to all underserved communities. To learn more about HOPE, visit www.operationhope.org : or read our blog at www.operationhope.org/blog : .

About Global Dignity (GD)


Global Dignity is an autonomous, nonprofit and nonpartisan project linked to the 2020 process of the World Economic Forum's Forum of Young Global Leaders, where young global leaders from politics, business, academia, and civil society have joined together to work for the improvement of the state of the world and people based on five principles of dignity. Co-founded by Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, Professor Pekka Himanen, University of Art & Design Helsinki and Visiting Professor at Oxford University, and John Hope Bryant Founder, Chairman and CEO from Operation HOPE, in December of 2006, its mission is to implement globally the universal right of every human being to lead a dignified life. For more information on about Global Dignity, see www.globaldignity.org : < www.globaldignity.org/ : >.


Office of the President of LatviaElina LazdaneDeputy Head of

Press Office+371 67092123 elina.lazdane@president.lv : mailto:elina.lazdane@president.lv or(USA)

Operation HOPE, Inc.Sherry T. JohnVP, Communications213-891-2908 sherry.john@operationhope.org : mailto:sherry.john@operationhope.org