JPMorgan Chase Tech Center Employees Mentor Students |
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In the fall of 2009, JPMorgan Chase employees at the JPMorgan Chase Technology Center at Syracuse University began working with the Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection, a program that helps at risk youth stay in school, succeed in the classroom, and graduate high school. Students in the Hillside program have advocates who support them in developing good habits, attaining important skills and allow the students to become responsible citizens.
The relationships between the mentors and the students formed with a visit to the Tech Center. Today, 11 employees of JPMorgan Chase meet with 11 8th grade students from Danforth Middle School in Syracuse twice a month for 2 hours. The first step for the mentors was to develop good relationships with the students on a personal level. Now that those connections exist, the mentors are working with the students on technology projects, including developing and managing their own websites, understanding the importance of education and technology, dismantling computers, and utilizing telepresence communications. The students will create the videos, poems, writings, and photographs for their website, having gained knowledge about expressing themselves through a session with Syracuse's spoken-word club Verbal Blend, and attending an event to hear Coach Ken Carter in celebration of Black History Month.
The mentors continue to explore activities to engage and develop relationships with these energetic and exciting young students. Through the program, the JPMorgan Chase mentors try to connect the students to the Syracuse University community and JPMorgan Chase community to give them a chance to have experiences on a college campus, as well as in the business world, opening their eyes to future opportunities. For students who may not be as passionate about technology, mentors have explored opportunities to have the students meet and participate in additional programs across the University in areas such as, culinary arts and fashion design. The JPMorgan Chase mentors continue to support the students and plan to attend their 8th-grade graduation ceremony in June 2010.
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