During my time working with George W. Bush, I was given the opportunity to help shape policy, even when we didn’t always agree. When Hurricane Katrina hit, I couldn’t just stand by while our communities suffered. I told the President I needed to act, and he listened. The challenge was turning digital relief into real aid for people who didn’t even have bank accounts. It wasn’t easy—months of back-and-forth, frustrations, and even being called out by Ambassador Andrew Young. But I learned an important lesson: Be skeptical, but don’t lose hope. If you want to create change, you’ve got to step over the mess, not in it, and stay focused on results. In the end, we made financial literacy a U.S. federal policy—a win for everyone. The lesson? It’s not about me, it’s about we. You can’t just protest; you have to work smart, work from the neck up, and stay relentless. You never go wrong by doing right. ✊🏽 #FinancialLiteracy #PolicyChange #HurricaneKatrina #OperationHOPE