John Hope Bryant to Join Marshall University for Black History Month Centennial Event

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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Marshall University will host a free public event on Wednesday, Feb. 18, at 6 p.m. marking the centennial of Negro History Week — now known as Black History Month, first established by West Virginia native Carter G. Woodson. The event will feature John Hope Bryant, founder and CEO of Operation HOPE, in conversation with Marshall University President Brad D. Smith. Sponsored by Operation HOPE, the Carter G. Woodson Lyceum, the Drinko Academy, and Marshall University, the event will highlight how the legacy of Black entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and community empowerment continues to shape economic opportunity today.

West Virginia Connections

Bryant’s visit carries deep personal and professional ties to West Virginia. His wife, Chaitra Dalton Bryant, is an entrepreneur and impact investor who leads her own wellness company, showing how Appalachian roots can thrive on a global stage. She is the daughter of Dr. David Dalton, a West Virginia native who co-founded Rite Aid, one of the nation’s largest pharmacy chains.

Bryant’s work in Huntington’s historic Fairfield neighborhood, supported by the Wing To Wing Foundation brings financial coaching and small-business resources directly into the community, reflecting his commitment to economic empowerment in places where access has historically been limited. With Marshall University President Brad D. Smith serving on Operation HOPE’s Global Board of Advisors, West Virginia has a direct connection to national conversations on financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and opportunity — giving the region both context and voice.

Finishing the Work

Bryant is nationally recognized for expanding access to financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and economic opportunity in communities historically excluded from traditional wealth-building systems. He founded Operation HOPE, Inc. in 1992. Since then, the organization reports it has served more than four million people nationwide, helping direct nearly $4 billion in economic activity into underserved communities through financial coaching, small-business development, credit education, and pathways to homeownership.

Operation HOPE’s national initiative, The 1865 Project is named for the year the Freedman’s Savings Bank was chartered to help formerly enslaved people learn to save, invest, and participate in the economy. While that original effort was undermined, The 1865 Project seeks to revive and complete that mission through modern financial education and access, linking historical aspirations to present-day action.

Operation HOPE has a presence in West Virginia, beginning in June 2024 through a partnership with the Wing 2 Wing Foundation. Together, they provide free financial coaching and small-business development resources to residents of Huntington’s Fairfield neighborhood, a historic Black community. The initiative embeds certified financial coaches directly in the community to help residents improve credit, build savings, and access small-business tools, alongside free virtual workshops and online resources. These efforts are part of The 1865 Project, bringing financial wellness and economic mobility to historically underserved communities.

With Brad D. Smith as both Marshall University president and a member of Operation HOPE’s Global Board, West Virginia has a seat at the table in national conversations about economic empowerment, technology, and financial literacy, ensuring local perspectives shape programs that impact the Mountain State.

Why Black By God is Paying Attention

Financial literacy and business ownership are essential tools for Black West Virginians, in a state where small towns, legacy businesses, and changing ownership patterns present overlooked opportunities. Agriculture and land-based enterprises are emerging as powerful pathways to wealth and community resilience, especially as climate change creates new opportunities for local farming and sustainable food production.

Black By God champions Black business, financial literacy, and economic empowerment so that West Virginians can leverage both historical knowledge and modern strategies — from entrepreneurship to land stewardship — to build wealth, strengthen community, and create opportunity. BBG has also reported on Bryant’s AI call to action, highlighting how artificial intelligence is reshaping work, entrepreneurship, and economic opportunity across Appalachia, including how technology can support sustainable agriculture, local economies, and small businesses.

Watch and Learn

In a powerful episode of NXT Chapter, West Virginia native Bishop T.D. Jakes sits down with John Hope Bryant to explore financial literacy, economic empowerment, and the historical roots of inequality — lessons that resonate strongly for communities across the Mountain State.