Dekonti Mends-Cole

Director

Dekonti Mends-Cole serves as the head of Diversity Equity and Inclusion for Corporate Responsibility leading the department’s efforts in embedding diversity, equity and inclusion in the department’s efforts. In her previous role, she served as the Vice President for the Mid-Atlantic overseeing strategic grant making in the Greater Washington region, Carolinas, and Georgia.  Dekonti developed a  comprehensive philanthropic strategy for the deployment of a $125M commitment in the Greater Washington region (MD, DC, VA) that positions the firm as a racial equity thought leader in the region.  

Prior to joining JPMorgan Chase & Co., she served as the Director of Policy at the Center for Community Progress where she advised federal, local, and state officials on vacant property programs and policies.  Previously, Dekonti served as the Deputy Director at the Detroit Land Bank Authority the country’s largest land bank standing up programs to support affordable home ownership and reactivate abandoned properties.  

Dekonti moved to Detroit, as a fellow with the White House Strong Cities, Strong Communities initiative where she was embedded in the City of Detroit to support the city during municipal bankruptcy advising on improving operational efficiencies in the law department and streamlining code enforcement and blight elimination strategies. She brings international experience and best practice to her role having previously worked on local economic development projects in UK, the Middle East, and Africa including infrastructure investment strategies in Iraq and Zambia for United Nations agencies and community development projects in historically underserved east London boroughs tied to the 2012 London Olympics. 

She holds an MSc from the London School of Economics in Urban Regeneration and Affordable Housing, a Juris Doctor from Georgetown Law Center, and a BA from University of Miami in International Studies and Economics.