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Last Updated: 6/27/2016

Pride Matters: Being Black and Gay in Corporate America

Please join the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago for this special event in honor of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Pride Month 2016. Jerome Harper, Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility at Northern Trust, discussed his experience as a gay black man in corporate America. The event detailed Harper’s professional coming out story and the impact to his life both personally and professionally. The event highlighted Chicago’s Black Pride events and provide information about how to become more involved as an ally and community supporter. Attendees learned about the importance of cultural awareness and competency, professional development, and workplace sensitivity. This event was jointly hosted by two Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago employee support network groups, the African American Association for Personal and Professional Growth and the Spectrum LGBT and ally group.

Jerome Harper photo
Jerome Harper
Vice President and Senior Consultant, Corporate Social Responsibility
Northern Trust

Jerome Harper is a vice president and senior consultant in Northern Trust’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) practice. In his role, Harper is responsible for the development and implementation of strategic initiatives tied to Northern Trust’s CSR platform.

Prior to this appointment, he was a senior program officer in the community affairs department where he was responsible for consulting with nonprofits seeking funding from Northern Trust through various programs both domestic and international. He also served as global manager of the Northern Trust Community Partners volunteer program that reports nearly 200,000 hours annually from employees as well as liaison for the award-winning Northern Trust United Way Campaign in Chicago and across the United States, which raised more than $3 million in 2012. In 2013, the United Way awarded him with its Diamond Award for his work on the metropolitan Chicago campaign. He is also the recipient of the 2013 Connecting Cultures award from Changing Worlds.

Harper is the recent past global president of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Business Resource Council at Northern Trust. The council is responsible for providing guidance on company policy and support for business development activities as they relate to the LGBT community.

Prior to joining Northern Trust in 2009, he worked as manager of donor services for The Chicago Community Trust. He consulted with individuals, families and corporations on how best to match their philanthropic philosophy with best in class nonprofit organizations.

Harper is the current chairman of the United Way and Metropolitan Chicago’s LGBT resource group—United Pride and a past chairperson of the development committee for The Rebecca K. Crown Center of the Chicago Youth Center system where he served for four years. Today, he lends his expertise in nonprofit leadership and governance to several organizations in Chicago.

 

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