'Karen and Jay share why having an ownership stake inspires pride, purpose, and better outcomes for everyone.'

There’s something wonderful that happens when people feel like they truly own a piece of what they’re doing. Everything changes. The enthusiasm. The pride. The attention to detail. Whether it’s a business, a home, or even a community project — having a real stake brings out our best. You see it everywhere in America. A neighborhood revived when families buy their first homes. A company transformed when employees become owners. A small shop in Portsmouth or Newport where the founder still turns on the lights every morning with joy in his heart. Ownership just has a magic to it. And it isn’t only about economics — though that’s certainly part of it. It’s something deeper. The psychological lift that comes from saying, “This is mine. I’m part of this.” Entrepreneurs know that feeling well. So do first-time homeowners. And so do those community volunteers who show up in all seasons — because they want to leave their corner of the world a little better than they found it. Having a stake ties us more tightly to the things we love. Think of what happens when people own their homes. Or co-own the businesses they work in. Or participate in cooperatives where every member has a share. The pride grows. The responsibility grows. The possibilities grow. Look at places like Detroit’s Fitzgerald neighborhood, or Boston’s Dudley Street, where residents became owners and the landscape changed almost overnight. Yards trimmed. Houses restored. Smiles bigger. People care for what they own — and it shows. And of course, here in the Granite State, we see this spirit every day. In Littleton’s River District. In the revitalized corners of Franklin. In towns like Wolfeboro where people pitch in because they feel the place is theirs. That’s the heart of small-town America — the simple, beautiful truth that when people have a stake, they step up. Imagine a truly broad “ownership society” here in America. Homes in reach. New entrepreneurs taking the leap. More employee-owned companies. More cooperatives. More chances for people to say, “I helped build this.” Yes, it will take creativity. Yes, it will take work. But the payoff — the pride, the dignity, the sense of possibility — would be immense. And so very worth it. Here’s to “having a stake”… and to the joy it brings.

This week we highlight John Hope Bryant, a dynamic American leader whose life mission has been to help people become owners — of businesses, of homes, and of their financial futures. As the founder of Operation HOPE, Bryant has championed financial literacy and economic inclusion for millions, especially in communities where ownership once felt out of reach. Growing up in challenging circumstances in Los Angeles, he learned early how transformative it can be when people gain access to opportunity — and how damaging it is when they don’t. That understanding became the heartbeat of his work. Bryant often says, “You build what you own,” and his career has been dedicated to helping others experience that truth. Operation HOPE has launched entrepreneurs from barbers to bakers to tech innovators, equipping them with training, credit pathways, and the confidence that comes from believing, “I can do this.” It’s ownership in its most human form — the chance to turn effort into independence. Bryant has also been a champion of homeownership initiatives, seeing firsthand how owning a home can stabilize a family and transform a neighborhood. His “1 Million Black Businesses Initiative” is one of the largest efforts in U.S. history to help new entrepreneurs plant roots and grow wealth that lasts. John Hope Bryant personifies this week’s theme. He believes in people. He believes in opportunity. He believes in the enormous power of having a stake. And he’s spent his life helping Americans — from all backgrounds — become owners of their future.

Quote of the Week

“Ownership brings security, and dignity, and independence.” — President George W. Bush

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