By: Elaine Grant-Bryan, Contributor
Words of wisdom from a pioneer, civil rights leader and friend of the Caribbean Region: His achievements are great examples of my “What, What, What Approach – what you do with what you have determines what you become™”
In Honor of Caribbean-American Heritage Month (June), we salute and dedicate my Financial Freedom Column to Ambassador Andrew Young. He is a founding principal and chair of GoodWorks International, an organization that embraces his mission of facilitating and enhancing economic development in the Caribbean and African Regions. He has dedicated his life and used his leadership to create a successful model that combines education, religion, democracy and free enterprise to support countries throughout the world. www.andrewyoung.org
While mayor of the City of Atlanta, Ambassador Young was instrumental in securing the establishment of 1100 new businesses and 70 billion dollars in private investments. He served in the United States Congress and as a US Ambassador to the United Nations during the Carter Administration. In 1996 he was awarded the Olympic Order. Ambassador Young has authored three books: Walk in My Shoes, An Easy Burden and A Way out of No Way.
Andrew Young
He is a trailblazer from whom everyone can benefit. We salute Ambassador Young in honor of Caribbean-American Heritage Month (June). While speaking with him, Young expressed high regards and appreciation for Attorney Monica Ladd Clarke of Jamaica who he has known for many years. The following is an excerpt from my recent interview with Ambassador Young:
June is Caribbean-American Heritage Month. Would you like to send a message to the Caribbean people?
Ambassador Young: “We need to know that we are one people, one culture and tied economically throughout the region.” He added that the Caribbean groups should not condone political divisions. “The Caribbean Sea does not divide the islands and the waterways are free, uniting: Trinidad, Barbados, Cuba, Bahamas, Bermuda, Jamaica and other Caribbean Nations.” This region has a comparative advantage in free waterways unlike the United States.
How important is financial freedom for the Caribbean-American community?
Ambassador Young: “Like the trade winds of the Caribbean Seas, we should invest our dollars together and move in one direction with our ideas.” Furthermore, we are united in a sales and marketing economy but divided in access to capital and therefore there has not been a free flow of capital among our people. He added, “Global recession is really a result of no order and we have moved from the gold standards where everyone agreed, to the current oil standards where we disagree.” He also added: “Without some humanitarian capitalism and respect for universal human rights in the economy, we will continue to have threats and chaos.”
What do you attribute to your success as a leader?
Ambassador Young: “I attribute my success to being born into a blessed family that was built on a Christian foundation. My grandparents were Christian missionaries and they were educated and by being so they made sure that those values were passed on to their children, grandchildren and future generations.” Ambassador Young knows his success just did not happen, the foundation for his success was in the making long before he knew he would become a leader.
Who are your mentors?
Ambassador Young: “My mentors were my parents and grandmother. At the age of 6 years old I would read the bible and newspaper to my grandmother everyday because she was blind.”
Ambassador Young grew up in a neighborhood mixed with Jews, Italian and Germans, but he went to public schools with poor black kids and he learned at a very young age the importance of education and taking the advice of his parents and grandmother.
It is great to collaborate with forward –thinking leaders such as Ambassador Andrew Young and to learn from his wealth of knowledge. His mission of “good works” has been consistent from his earlier years as an ordained minister and top aide to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during the civil rights movement to his current global economic projects; expanding throughout Africa, Europe, Asia, United States, the Middle East and Caribbean Countries.
Important tip from Ambassador Andrew Young: “Between the elite and ordinary folks, we have not listened to each other, it is vital to listen to the wisdom of ancestors.” Additionally he added that global economic stability and free fair market capitalization is required for the 21st Century. We should do for the poor what has been done for the upper and middle classes.
Ambassador Young is married to Carolyn McClain Young. He is the father of three daughters and one son and has seven grandchildren. He has received more than 60 honorary degrees, including his alma mater, Howard University, Swarthmore College, Duke University, Emory University, Clark Atlanta University, the University of Georgia and Morehouse College.
My Financial Tip: While establishing your financial portfolio, try to assist someone less able, sow seeds of kindness in the universe.
Elaine Grant-Bryan is a Financial Columnist, Empowerment Speaker, 2011 GSCA Georgia Counselor of the Year, Leadership Sandy Springs Alumni Council Member, recipient of the Atlanta Mayor’s Phoenix Award and Governor’s Commendation for her contributions to Educational & Civic Leadership. Visit www.elainebryan.com
