TFI (The Fellowship Institute) is part of JPMorgan Chase’s broader efforts to provide adults and young people with the education, skills and resources that contribute to greater economic mobility. To date, more than 350 JPMorgan Chase employees have worked with TFI Fellows as mentors, coaches, role models, speakers, and volunteers in various capacities. Since its launch in 2010, the program has since expanded and recruited Fellows in Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, New York and most recently in Oakland.
Every year, the TFI program leaders gather in fellowship to learn best practices creating transformational relationships with youth, fostering their aspirations and a growth mindset. Planning co-chairs included KOO’s Director of Youth Leadership E.J. Walls and Kourtney Cockrell, TFI’s Regional Director for JPMorgan Chase. This jam packed two-day convening included interactive sessions with team leaders from across the country with roadmaps created for each organization as well as making meaning of high stakes issues such as the political landscape in the wake of the Affirmative Action ruling.
The caliber of intention during the convening is a testament to why and how TFI Oakland’s inaugural cohort achieved 100% college acceptance. TFI is one of KOO’s three direct service programs. There is still space for current high school sophomores to join us this year.
We rely on the trust and generosity of visionary funders like JPMorgan Chase to believe in Black and brown boys, which challenges other major corporate donors to invest in their future in similar ways.