For most students, spring break means relaxing at home or with friends. Instead of taking a vacation, the high school sophomores in JPMorgan Chase’s program, The Fellowship Initiative (TFI), used their spring breaks to engage in learning activities designed to help them discover new talents, build their skills, and deepen connections to their JPMorgan Chase mentors.
 
Through a partnership with Groundswell, the TFI Fellows participated in conversations about what it means to be successful, and how to achieve their personal and professional goals. Two teams created two murals in New York, and another two teams painted two more murals in Los Angeles. All of the art was developed and painted by the TFI Fellows, under the direction of the Groundswell artists. This project provided the TFI Fellows with opportunities to hone their research, observation, analysis, and collaboration skills. TFI mentors contributed to early brainstorm sessions by discussing strategies for achieving goals, focusing on personal growth, and being successful in today’s competitive economy.
 
The Los Angeles team led by Chris Soria created “Embodying Attachment.” Reciprocity is personified in this painting with a central figure in an unbounded gesture returning to open the door for another. With arms that appear to be orbiting their own body in a figure eight motion, one hand is accessing its potential and opening possibilities, while the other is guiding the intention of the plant growing from out of the mind. A translucent pattern of pedestals extends horizontally in either direction depending upon how you focus. The pedestals flowing left represent milestones and accomplishments, while the ones flowing right represent goals and ambitions.