Although there’s no secret recipe for success, access to resources like mentors, professional networks and internships can help young people as they navigate the transition from school into the workforce. For over a decade JPMorgan Chase’s flagship college and career readiness program, The Fellowship Initiative (TFI) has helped young men of color from across the country bridge the gap and achieve academic and professional success. To date, the program has helped over 750 young men of color benefit from community, mentorship, leadership and experiential opportunities, that equips them to achieve academic and professional success.
With a new school year on the horizon, and a new cohort of students beginning the next chapter of their education journey, LA/Inglewood Community Manager, Christopher Beene, sat down with TFI LA Executive Sponsor Rick Barragan to discuss the impact that TFI has had within communities of color.
Q: Why does JPMorgan Chase invest in educational and career pathways for young people of color?
Education is a cornerstone for success and advancement in our communities. But access to education is not equal. It’s important that we work to address the educational gap and The Fellowship Initiative is a huge piece of that effort. Many of our Fellows come from underserved communities across LA so this initiative is critical in preparing them for college and exposing them to pathways that can lead to career opportunities. Our goal is getting our fellows to successfully graduate from high school AND being accepted into a four-year college. And while the program ends in high school, we set-up our fellows for success in college. The Fellows have always achieved a 100% acceptance rate to a four-year college or university, and this year was no different. That type of progress -that’s the key.
Q: How important is it that companies invest in educational pathways and become leaders in providing opportunities for young people?
It’s critical. This is not an issue that can be tackled by only the public sector. Everyone has skin in the game. It can’t be left up to only one entity – it’s something that takes real public-private partnership. Our young people are the future and it’s up to all of us to get involved. It takes time, resources, funding, human capital to make a difference for these young people. Programs like TFI help, but we all need to come together for our next generation.
Q: Is there a special moment or experience you’ve had as an Executive Sponsor in TFI that you’d like to share?
When you hear the stories of some of these Fellows being the first in their families to go to college – that leaves an impact. For some of them, it wasn’t even a dream, they weren’t even thinking about it. It wasn’t event on their radar. College was not a path they saw for themselves, so to see that mindset shift and watch them go after it, that’s huge. Many of these young men are very candid about the adversity they face at home and in school, and how this program makes them different. But they plug through, persevere and are going to college. That just fills my heart. It’s not easy for many of these kids, but they do it because they care about themselves and the success and future of their families. They begin to see a path forward that can change their lives and make a difference for their families, too. There are hundreds of these stories. It’s not easy, but they push forward. That’s why we do it. To me, that’s what it’s all about.
When we invest in our young people, we’re making an investment in our futures, and the future of our communities. TFI is a part of JPMorgan Chase’s broader commitment to driving a more inclusive economy. In addition to Los Angeles, the program is offered to high school students in Dallas, Chicago, New York, Oakland, Houston and Washington, D.C. Since launching in 2010, TFI has provided young men of color with resources, mentorship and a community of supporters who are invested in the students and their success. With 100% of TFI Fellows pursuing college or post-secondary pathways, the program has opened doors to opportunities for more people. To learn more about TFI and JPMorgan Chase’s efforts to create a more inclusive economy, click here.
