As part of its global initiatives to help adults and young people acquire skills for well-paying jobs of the 21
st
century, JPMorgan Chase & Co. has made a $150,000 investment in Urban Ed, Inc. This will support Urban Ed's multi-year plan to expand its training programs and create more IT career pathways for Washington, D.C.'s low-income residents, particularly in Ward 8.
A changing global economy and the rise of technology have dramatically transformed the types of workforce skills that are in demand. JPMorgan Chase is investing over $325 million in skills and development around the world, including its New Skills for Youth and New Skills at Work initiatives. Through these efforts, they are working to help employers find qualified workers and simultaneously provide job seekers with a pathway to economic opportunity. Read more about JPMorgan Chase's approach to creating economic opportunity around the world in its
annual Corporate Responsibility report.
"Urban Ed has provided graduates with the skills they need to succeed in the workplace," said Alexis Bataillon, Head of Mid-Atlantic Strategic Initiatives, JPMorgan Chase. "We are pleased to use our expertise and resources to support the expansion and evolution of their workforce programs to meet the needs of growing sectors and enable more students to succeed."
JPMorgan Chase's investment will support Urban Ed's workforce development programming, which builds the local IT talent pool, helps larger numbers of minority youth access technology sector employment, and enhances opportunities for women in IT, particularly women of color. Building on its successes to date, Urban Ed will also be able to expand the size and scope of its programs thanks to JPMorgan Chase. In keeping with Urban Ed's demand-driven approach, this will include stronger emphasis on training in the areas of IT security, network engineering, and IT programming in order to provide more tech sector entry points for its graduates. Urban Ed is also forging partnerships with local business to create opportunities for on-the-job training and mentoring.
Roxanne J. Williams, Urban Ed's founder and President, says that "Careers in IT are a game-changer for youth who are trying to find their way. We are simply providing the skills they need to transform their lives. Our team is proud to receive this support from JPMorgan Chase, which will allow us to open doors for many more young people who might otherwise not have had a shot at a promising career and economic security for themselves and their families."
