As a Force Recon Marine, Jake Harriman fought terrorists overseas. As the founder of Nuru International, he battled extreme poverty in Africa. Now he's taking on his biggest mission yet. Harriman is founder and chairman of The Brickyard, a national nonprofit that is part of the growing movement to heal our divided nation and forge a better future. In Rescuing the Idea of America, Harriman shares both his inspiring personal story and a five-step code—believe, serve, connect, lead, and restore—for healing our country's divisions and becoming a nation that stands for the freedom of lasting, meaningful choices for all.
Jake graduated with distinction from the United States Naval Academy and served seven and a half years in the U.S. Marine Corps as a Platoon Commander in both the Infantry and Force Recon. Following his service, Jake enrolled at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. While at Stanford, he founded Nuru International to eradicate extreme poverty in the world’s most unstable, vulnerable regions to help end violent extremism. Jake played a vital role in drafting, introducing, and passing groundbreaking new legislation called the Global Fragility Act of 2019 that equips America with new authorities and resources to prevent conflict and stabilize some of the most fragile regions of the world.
Jake is the Founder and President of The Brickyard, a nonprofit civic organization that aims to unite the country and strengthen our communities through social connection, service, and civic engagement. The Brickyard is a national civic and service organization that brings people together locally — across differences — to build trust, community, and leadership through action. Brickyards are local chapters led by Veterans and service-minded leaders, hosting social gatherings, service events, and civic connection. Each Brickyard brings together people from different backgrounds to serve their communities, build relationships, and strengthen local civic life.
The Brickyard Website: Click Here
Interview Transcript: Click Here