Theresa Saelim

About: Saelim joined JPMorgan Chase & Co. in 2020 to help clients purchasing a home or refinancing find the mortgage that’s right for them. Saelim has a bachelor’s degree in American diversity studies from Ohio State University. She lives in Canal Winchester with her husband, Maurice Henderson, is the proud mom of Asya, 18, and Maurice IV, 10 months.

Outside of work: Saelim has been active with the United Way of Central Ohio since 2007 and is a grant reviewer for its Neighborhood Partnership Grant Program. She’s volunteered for more than a dozen nonprofits over the years and currently is a member of the Franklin County Community Development Advisory Board and the City of Columbus-Franklin County Housing Advisory Board.

What does Columbus need to thrive? Columbus needs an inclusive plan for growth and development that both addresses the need for more affordable housing and pro-actively engages Millennials and New American communities. In a recent study by the Affordable Housing Alliance of Central Ohio it was found that housing insecurity is on the rise and that there are over 54,000 households in Franklin County that spend over 50% of their paycheck on housing. While Columbus has made great strides in its efforts to address this growing issue, it will only be further exacerbated by the pandemic.

Saelim’s idea: I would love to see the creation of a public/private outreach campaign to promote the benefits of homeownership to Millennials, which would include a financial education toolbox that can be presented and shared with different groups. This campaign may include social media PSAs, as well as engaging local nonprofits and/or companies with employee business resource groups that are geared toward individuals in that demographic.