MADISON, Wis.—The World Council of Credit Unions hosted a webinar examining racial issues and credit unions, while also announcing a new alliance to help fight discrimination worldwide.
The webinar was held in the wake of the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis Police, which has set off protests and discussion of race-related issues across the United States and the world.
The WOCCU webinar, titled “Today’s Racial Turmoil and the Credit Union Answer,” featured Renée Sattiewhite, president and CEO of the African-American Credit Union Coalition (AACUC), who spoke about the systemic challenges facing African-Americans in the United States, and how her organization and the entire credit union industry can work to enact change.
“The philosophy of credit unions is ‘people helping people.’ Well, when you start there and you know that’s what you want to forge to, I believe that you can make a difference just in being kind to one another,” said Sattiewhite during the webinar.
A Step Further
Sattiewhite said the AACUC is now going a step further in rolling out its “Commitment to Change” initiative.
“We want credit unions all across the nation, and those of you who are international, to please join with us in eliminating and eradicating racism. Unite against racism—because it could be me that’s under somebody’s foot or dying,” said Sattiewhite, who also answered nearly a dozen questions from attendees.
The questions ranged from issues dealing with racism, rioting and white privilege—to how credit unions can successfully employ more diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives for African-American employees and members.
Added Brian Branch, president of WOCCU, “This is not just a local issue; it is a global issue and one for which we find credit unions on the frontline. Renée does us a great service by helping us understand the problem and its underpinnings in the U.S. and by addressing what credit unions can do to address the wider societal problem.”
New Alliance Announced
During the webinar the World Council and the AACUC also announced a new alliance to support credit unions in fighting discrimination worldwide through scholarship exchanges between the two organizations.
“World Council has always been about building bonds across borders and across cultures. One of the ways we fight racism and discrimination is through building bonds through exchanges and shared experience: ‘una viventem’—living and working together,” explained Branch. “We knock down the walls that separate us in this global community.”
The full webinar is available on WOCCU’s YouTube Channel.