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Coopera CEO: Diversity, inclusion start at home

Webinar for credit union leaders planned for February 1

DES MOINES, IA (January 9, 2018) — As more credit unions prepare to deploy financial inclusion strategies within their local communities, Coopera CEO Miriam De Dios Woodward is reminding leaders to first look inward. In a white paper released this week, she shares a collection of ideas for how credit unions can demonstrate diversity and inclusion within their own ranks. This is key, she says, to successfully attracting the underserved to credit union membership.

“Financial inclusion is a two-way street,” writes De Dios Woodward. “A credit union can offer up fair, dignified, affordable and culturally relevant services, but if community members don’t respond, the impact of those products and services is greatly reduced. To inspire action, credit unions have to come from a position of authenticity.”

According to De Dios Woodward, there are three things community members new to traditional financial services want to see from a credit union:

  • Employees who look like them
  • Communications that speak to them
  • Experiences that feel real to them

In addition to diversity and inclusion tactics, the white paper includes examples of organizations both in and outside the credit union movement that have experienced success in their internal efforts to support external initiatives.

To download the paper, “Financial Inclusion Starts at Home,” visit cooperaconsulting.com/hispanic-expertise or http://bit.ly/fininclusionwp.

To keep the conversation going, Coopera is partnering with the Credit Union National Association (CUNA) to host a webinar on the topic. Credit union leaders are encouraged to register and attend the digital event, which is planned for February 1, 2018.

The Double Bottom Line of Diversity and Inclusion
Feburary 1, 2018
2:00 PM CST

About Coopera

Coopera (ko­-pair­-ah) is a full­-service multicultural analytics and consulting firm with specific focus on credit unions nationwide. Coopera’s dedicated multicultural and multilingual personnel work closely with clients to assess their needs and create growth strategies designed to increase multicultural membership, revenue growth and loan volume. Founded by the late Hispanic community activist Warren Morrow, Coopera is owned by Affiliates Management Company, the holding company of the Iowa Credit Union League and is an exclusive strategic alliance partner of the Credit Union National Association. For more information, visit www.CooperaConsulting.com

Credit Union National Association (CUNA)

Credit Union National Association (CUNA) is the only national association that advocates on behalf of all of America’s credit unions, which are owned by 110 million consumer members. CUNA, along with its network of affiliated state credit union leagues, delivers unwavering advocacy, continuous professional growth and operational confidence to protect the best interests of all credit unions. For more information about CUNA, visit cuna.org.

Contacts

Victor Corro
victor.corro@cooperaconsulting.com

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