Chase provided 450 Brooklyn high school students with free backpacks and school supplies on Aug. 13, marking the end of a summer program aimed at enriching financial literacy.
The giveaway, held at Medgar Evers College’s Crown Heights campus, was part of a broader initiative in partnership with the school, where students participated in over 30 financial health workshops and career exploration activities. These workshops were integrated into Medgar Evers College’s Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP), which provides seven weeks of employment and educational experiences for students.
Throughout the summer, students participated in sessions covering budgeting, credit, saving and generational wealth. They also had the opportunity to engage with professionals from various career fields. The workshops were aimed at bridging gaps in financial literacy and preparing students for future financial independence.
The summer program wrapped with student presentations — a highlight for organizers such as Nichol King, executive director and northeast region director for community banking at JPMorgan Chase.
In a statement to Brooklyn Paper, King highlighted the importance of financial literacy in closing the racial wealth gap.
“If we want to address the racial wealth gap and create a more inclusive economy, we need to make sure the next generation understands the importance of financial health,” she said. “This is a core skill — like reading, writing, and math — and I want to thank Medgar Evers, CUNY, and the City Department of Youth and Community Development for providing our team with an opportunity to share our knowledge with over a thousand students and hundreds of their parents.”
Later this year, JPMorgan Chase plans to open a new Community Center Branch in Central Brooklyn, which will serve as an additional resource for community outreach and financial education.
“We look forward to building on this partnership and continuing to serve the Central Brooklyn community,” King said.
