Q&A with JPMorgan Chase’s Jason Patton

In celebration of Black History Month, we sat down with Jason Patton at JPMorgan Chase to discuss what Black History Month means to him, how the firm is advancing racial equity and how is team is working to make a difference in New York.

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.

With my children, we research and discuss the achievements of Black people who have made significant advancements in their field. We will pick an industry like farming or aeronautics, learn about it together and talk about how that person made a difference. This year, they chose space exploration and we’re learning about the accomplishments of ‘Hidden Figure’ Katherine Goble Johnson and her contributions to NASA during the Space Race.

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, 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.

The firm’s first ever Community Center branch and Community Manager began in Harlem in 2019. Since that time and as part of our commitment to New York, we’ve hired 28 from Flatbush to the South Bronx to Mt. Vernon and Rochester. These leaders connect community members with the many free resources we’ve created to support financial health education, first-time homebuyer education, and many other resources.

We’re invested in making an impact in New York, throughout the city and around the state, and are 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 asking 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.

Newark Students Develop Workforce Skills during Summer Youth Employment Program, Hosted by Berkeley College

Students practice CPR during the Newark Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) on July 26, 2023. This summer, nearly 300 Newark residents...

Berkeley College Announces Opportunity Grant for Qualified New Jersey Residents to Earn a Degree Debt-Free

Qualified New Jersey residents can enroll in a full-time Associate’s degree program without incurring any loans for tuition and fees...

Berkeley College Appoints Patricia Greer, JD, as Provost

Share the News: @BerkeleyCollege #NewsBerkeley   Berkeley College has named Patricia “Patty” Bennett Greer, JD, as Provost, effective August 7, 2023...

Jobs, Wages and Education

In the summer of 1963, Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stood at the Lincoln Memorial facing our nation’s Capitol...

Kool and the Gang co-founder donates thousands to NJ schools for music education

A co-founder of one of the most successful music groups to come out of New Jersey is helping the next...

Kean University President Repollet Attends White House’s National Summit on Equal Opportunity in Higher Education

Kean University President Lamont O. Repollet, Ed.D., today joined U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona, key members of the Biden-Harris...

DV Connector Network Presents – Precious Williams – The Killer Pitch Master

Securing Our Legacy Through UJAMAA DV Connector Network Series Hear from our Special Guest… Precious...

New Jersey Reparations Council Announced

On June 19, 2023, the second anniversary of our newest federal holiday, Juneteenth, celebrations marked...

AACCNJ’s First Juneteenth Black Business Expo

Black-owned businesses connected with private and public companies at the well-attended, inaugural Black Business Expo...

Summer in and out of the City

BY R.L. WITTER My husband at the wheel, the road stretches in front of me...

Why the Habit of Saving is Key to Becoming Financially Healthier

Savings is a foundational piece to financial health since research has found that unexpected expenses...

Jobs, Wages and Education

In the summer of 1963, Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stood at the Lincoln...

Newark’s Gospel Music Month Kick-Off Celebration

For 38 years, Gospel Music Month has been celebrated in Newark, NJ, the state’s Gospel Capital. Dr. Albert Lewis proposed...
Read More

Gospel in the City

Sounds of praise and joy were in the air at the East Orange Campus High School on June 10. Mayor...
Read More

NTAC Gala 2023

Neighborhood Technical Assistance Clinic (NTAC) Founder and CEO Rev. Dr. Valerie Oliver Durrah welcomed guests to the organization’s White Party...
Read More

More than 4,500 Volunteers Packed 1.5 Million Meals For New Yorkers In Need in Observance of 9/11 Day

September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance 22 years after the Sept 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the 9/11 anniversary...
Read More

Honoring Newark Heroes: Wayne Brooks Jr. and Augusto Acabou

By Steve Walkers To their families and coworkers they were know as “Bear” and ” Augie.” We know them as...
Read More

Jim Harding’s Never Ending Service to the Community

By Jean Nash Wells Called out of retirement, Jim Harding, now the Assistant Fire Commissioner and Senior Advisor of External...
Read More

President’s Message

By Lloyd Williams Welcome to The Positive Community’s 2023 “Harlem Summer” edition, and congratulations on The Positive Community’s continued commitment...
Read More

Brooklyn Chamber Hosts Energy Summit

Recent unprecedented heat with rare and never before experienced climate events wreaking havoc on populations around the world, climate change...
Read More

The National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives(NOBLE) Conference

In April, NOBLE Region I, encompassing New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire, held its annual, two-day training...
Read More

Rev. Dr. Alyn Waller joins PHEN in the fight against prostate cancer

PHEN’s 2023 Prostate Cancer Disparity Rally: Have you heard that Black men get diagnosed with...

Shavonda E. Sumter, State Representative for Patterson, NJ introduces PHEN

Shavonda E. Sumter, State Representative for Patterson, NJ introduces PHEN and shares her experience about...

Alzheimer’s in African Americans: Are You at Risk? What You Need to Know

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, older Black Americans are two times more likely than their White counterparts...

The Bronny James Health Scare Highlights Cardiac Arrest in Young Athletes

Bronny James, the 18-year-old son of NBA superstar LeBron James, is in the news after...

Black Health Matters

Spring Health Summit and Expo In conjunction with the Office of Newark’s West Ward Councilman...

Prostate Health Education Network

Prostate Cancer Rally and Town Hall Meeting The Prostate Health Education Network’s (PHEN) New York...