Greenwood Project

The Greenwood Project is a non-profit organization founded in 2016 by Bevon Joseph and Elois Joseph, aimed at creating career opportunities for Black and Latino students in the financial services industry. Named after the historic Greenwood district in Tulsa, Oklahoma, also known as "Black Wall Street," the project seeks to address the lack of diversity in the finance sector.
== History ==
Bevon Joseph, a native of Trinidad, and Elois Joseph, who hails from Chicago, established the Greenwood Project after observing the persistent lack of diversity throughout their combined 40-year careers in financial services. The organization began with a small class of five college students in 2016 and has since expanded to serve over 400 high school and college students.
== Programs ==
The Greenwood Project offers several initiatives:
#Internships: Partnering with financial firms to provide paid internship opportunities for students.
#Mentorships: Connecting students with industry professionals for guidance and support.
#Summer Training: Offering educational programs to expose students to various aspects of the finance industry.
The organization runs two main programs:
#College Program: Attracts students nationwide, placing interns in cities such as Chicago, Denver, and New York.
#High School Program: Serves students in the Chicago area, providing a six-week summer program where participants visit different financial companies daily.
== Partnerships ==
Initially relying on the founders' professional networks, the Greenwood Project experienced significant growth in partnerships following the events of 2020. The organization went from 20 partners over three years to 30 by the end of 2020. As of 2022, the Greenwood Project had partnerships with 55 firms, including notable names such as Morgan Stanley, Charles Schwab, and Janus Henderson.
In 2022, the project announced a partnership with Citadel and Citadel Securities to expand its summer high school program, aiming to serve over 60 high school students from Chicago's South and West sides.
== Impact ==
The Greenwood Project has made significant strides in creating pathways to finance careers for underrepresented groups:
*Nearly 80% of program graduates work in the finance industry.
*The organization planned to assist 220 college students in 2022.
*It has helped both students gain industry knowledge and firms access a diverse talent pool.
The founders describe their mission as "You can't be, what you can't see," emphasizing the importance of representation in the finance industry. Through their efforts, the Greenwood Project aims to contribute to the creation of generational wealth and increase diversity in the financial services sector.
==Key People==
===Management===
File:KSmith copy.jpg|Kwesi Smith, Chief Executive Officer
File:HAlbert-1 copy.jpg|Heidi Albert, Director Of People & Culture
File:MBrawner-Henley copy.jpg|Mariyah Brawner-Henley, Director Of Talent & Recruiting
File:VJones.png|Virgil Jones, Director Of Growth & Operations
File:COlder copy.jpg|Caroline Older, Director Of Advancement
File:DRand copy.jpg|Diane Rodriguez Rand, Director Of Partnerships
File:KAristide copy.jpg|Kevin Aristide, Program Coach
File:ACarreras.png|Aryana Carreras, Program Associate
File:CTorres copy.jpg|Casandra Torres, Campus Recruiting Coordinator
File:MPlato.png|Maren Plato, Database & Social Media Manager
File:AOkanta-Mathews.png|Ashley Okonta-Mathews, Manager Of Curriculum & Learning Pathways
==Video==
Interview of Kwesi Brown, CEO of Greenwood Project in 2023, after he assumed the role. 
Interview with Greenwood Project Founder Bevon Joseph at the 2022 Options Industry Conference.
An update on the Greenwood Project from Bevon Joseph at the FIA's 2021 International EXPO in Chicago. 
Presentation by Bevon Joseph for the MarketsWiki Education World of Opportunity program in 2020. 
== References ==
Category:Non-Profits