MARLBOROUGH, Mass.–One credit union trade association and one credit union have announced support for diversity efforts within credit unions.
In Massachusetts, the Cooperative Credit Union Association said it is joining the CU Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Collective.
As CUToday.info reported here, in June CUNA announced it would be among the founding organizations of the Credit Union Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Collective, a group within the credit union movement devoted to furthering DEI.
The collective launched Friday, June 19, or Juneteeth, the day commemorating the end of slavery in the U.S.
The Cooperative Credit Union Association made its announcement just prior to a panel discussion on DEI principles during the organization’s Annual Convention, with the CCUA saying the move substantiates McLean’s pledge to bring awareness and educational programming on the subject to the membership.
“Joining the CU DEI Collective is an important statement of support for DEI, and it will enhance our efforts and provide our credit unions with additional resources,” said McLean.
GreenState Signs On
Separately, in Iowa, GreenState Credit Union said it is also signing on to support the African American Credit Union Coalition’s Commitment to Change, including announcing a $25,000 per year pledge for five years totaling $125,000 in support of the “I’ve Got Five on It” campaign, led by Opal Tomashevska, chair of the Young Professionals of AACUC.
“We look forward to a strong partnership with GreenState Credit Union, who is certainly taking the lead as a pacesetter with their generous support of the “I’ve Got Five On It” campaign,” said Tomashevska. “This GreenState pledge is the first and the largest of its kind.”
Added Jeffrey A. Disterhoft, president/CEO of GreenState Credit Union, “AACUC and the Commitment to Change Initiative exemplifies the community service spirit of the credit union movement. So many of our neighbors and members are hurting in 2020, first from the health crisis and economic crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic, but also from the pain of racial discord in our society. With the Commitment to Change Initiative, credit unions are united with one voice to make a positive impact in the communities that we serve.”
Renée Sattiewhite, president/CEO of the African-American Credit Union Coalition, said in a statement credit unions were founded on the Cooperative Principles and have the ability to lead the nation in eliminating racial discrimination.
“We at AACUC are convinced that the first order of business is for communities of color to become economically self-sufficient, and financial inclusion is at the core of what we do,” said Sattiewhite.
Other Supporters
Numerous other organizations also have pledged support to the DEI Collective, including the African-American CU Coalition, American Association of CU Leagues, Coopera, CO-OP Financial Services, CUNA Mutual Group, Filene, the National CU Foundation, humanidei, inclusive, the Network of Latino Credit Unions and Professionals, PSCU, the World Council and your Credit Union partner.