JPMorgan was the Perfect Game sponsor for our 2022 Strike Down Barriers to Health Care fundraising event. Project Access Northwest sincerely appreciates its support of our mission and its ongoing efforts to reach historically underserved communities.
What does Black History Month mean to you and how are you celebrating?
Black History Month is a time for both reflection and celebration across communities — a time where we honor the history, legacy and contributions of Black Americans to our society.
How is JPMorgan Chase making an impact to advance racial equity?
Diversity, equality and inclusion have been an important part of the culture at JPMorgan Chase and we wanted to take a look at what else we can be doing. While our work to advance racial equity has been longstanding, in October 2020, we made a $30 billion commitment to advance racial equity that took a look at additional ways to address affordable housing, small business and financial health, among other critical financial needs within unbanked and underbanked communities.
We’ve opened 14 Community Center branches — locally-inspired and built with extra space to host free community events and financial health workshops — across the country and hired nearly 150 Community Managers. As part of the commitment, here in the Seattle community, we’ve hired two Community Managers who connect community members with the many resources we’ve created to support financial health education, first-time homebuyer education, and many other resources.
We hired two certified Senior Business Consultants in the Puget Sound area who provide free one-on-one coaching and advice to local Black, Hispanic, Latino and underbanked small business owners on everything from boosting creditworthiness to managing cash flow to effective marketing. Additionally, Chase Home Lending Advisors are available across the U.S. — whether you want to click, call or visit in-branch — to help you prepare for homeownership, including identifying the right financing solutions and any down payment/housing assistance available.
We’re invested in making an impact in the Pacific Northwest and committed to supporting underserved communities, helping them reach their financial goals.
How should other companies and individuals be thinking about advancing racial equity?
We all can make an effort to help advance racial equity within our community — including by investing in or shopping with local diverse-owned businesses, supporting philanthropic efforts in our community and participating in community events.
Consider looking for diverse initiatives and business resource groups within your company that focus on supporting underserved or underrepresented communities, and ask if there are opportunities to support those initiatives or groups. For instance, JPMorgan Chase’s Advancing Black Pathways initiative works to support the economic empowerment of the Black community globally. Through our Global Supplier Diversity program we’re using our purchasing power to build economic equity in diverse communities, foster the success of underrepresented business owners, and promote equity, inclusion and sustainability across the wider business community. We also have initiatives focused on other communities and business resource groups that share our company commitment to equity and equality and create opportunities for employees to be engaged.