Courtesy of Central State University
JPMorgan Chase representatives from Advancing Black Pathways (ABP) led on-campus events throughout July as part of the Marauder Momentum Career Development Series. The Marauder Momentum program prepares prospective Central State students to successfully transition from high school to college. Through the Career Development Series, which ran from July 6-28, students were exposed to everything from resume building and mock interviews to social media branding and elevator pitches. In panels and discussions, the JPMorgan Chase ABP representatives shared their expertise on internships, financial literacy, and corporate America.
Advancing Black Pathways is the JPMorgan Chase program specifically designed to combat racial inequities. The ABP Fellowship Program is a six-week experience that provides students unfamiliar with the financial industry with the soft and hard skills necessary to succeed in the corporate space. As they engaged with the Marauder Momentum students, the JPMC ABP representatives shared both practical knowledge for securing corporate internships (such as the ABP Fellowship) and personal experiences from their academic and professional careers.
Mya R. Pollard, the program manager for the ABP Fellowship Program and panel moderator, said that their goal was to expose students to careers and information they might be unfamiliar with and for the students to see four people of color, specifically Black professionals, and know that “they too can be in those seats.”
The Marauder Momentum students, even those not planning to pursue a career in business, found the JPMC-led panels to be “informational” and inspirational. After the Importance of Internships Panel, one student, Omarion, said that business “was always in the back of my mind,” but it was encouraging “to see people who went through it.” Kaleb echoed Omarion, noting that it was motivational to see people who are a “success story.”
For JPMorgan Chase, the Marauder Momentum Career Development Series was an opportunity to engage with students who have the potential to be valuable assets to the corporation and community. As Pollard said, “We want Central State to become a fabric of JPMC.”
JPMorgan Chase’s involvement in the Marauder Momentum Career Development Series is a part of Central State University Office of Career Services and The Center of Excellence for HBCU Corporate Engagement’s ongoing efforts to engage with corporate partners, providing students with the tools and connections necessary to pursue successful careers.
Special Thanks to JPMorgan Chase Advancing Black Pathways; CSU Office of Career Services; the Center of Excellence for HBCU Corporate Engagement; Lisa Dunn, Kenneth Goodrum, Karla Harper, and Kimberly Jones for organizing the Series; Mya R. Pollard, Jordan T. S. Sibley, Daesha McPhaul, and Israel Chipman for representing JPMC ABP and sharing their advice, experiences, and time; the Marauder Momentum leaders; and the Marauder Momentum students, especially Omarion, Kaleb, and Nyshawnti.
