Launched in 2019, JPMorgan Chase and Co.’s Advancing Black Pathways (ABP) program has focused on creating more economic opportunities for Black communities through education, career and wealth creation.
As part of the ABP program, JPMorgan made a commitment to hire 4,000 Black students over a five-year period in apprenticeships, internships and full-time positions. In year one of the goal, more than 1,000 Black students were hired.
“We knew that by leveraging our business and philanthropic resources to really focus on these three areas, we could move the needle in the Black community,” said Sekou Kaalund, managing director at JPMorgan and head of ABP.
JPMorgan has continued to partner with historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) over the years. At Howard University, they launched a financial health course during freshman orientation. Additionally, this year, JPMorgan hosted a virtual HBCU commencement ceremony, which saw participation from over 30,000 students and 78 institutions.
“Our partnership started with HBCUs because they’re critical institutions in the Black community,” said Kaalund. “We wanted to make sure that we’re amplifying and contributing to the longer-term success and liability of institutions as well as benefit from the immense talent that comes from HBCUs.”
To provide recruitment opportunities, JPMorgan has launched several programs for students to participate in. One, for example, is the Advancing Black Pathways Apprentice Program designed for students in their freshman and sophomore year of college to introduce them to a corporate environment at an earlier age.
“We wanted to make sure that this talent had the opportunity to really acclimate, learn, contribute early,” said Kaalund. “So by the time they got to their junior year internship, they are rock stars. They are doing well because we’re not doing charity. We are extracting the best talent.”
