Unitus Community Credit Union, Inclusiv, and Point West Credit Union launch Northwest Juntos Avanzamos Roundtable series
Yearly event will bring together industry and community leaders to build upon inclusive financial practices.
After a successful inaugural event, Inclusiv, Unitus Community Credit Union, and Point West Credit Union are announcing they’ll host an annual Northwest Juntos Avanzamos Roundtable each year to facilitate discussions around inclusive financial practices. The Roundtable will be facilitated by a formalized Juntos Avanzamos Northwest Chapter, in collaboration with the National Association of Latino Credit Unions and Professionals (NLCUP) and GoWest Credit Union Association.
At the inaugural event on August 21-22, 2023, at Unitus Plaza in Portland, Oregon, credit union leaders, national practitioners, and lawmakers convened to learn and share best practices and deliberate strategies aimed at empowering Hispanic and Immigrant communities historically underserved by the financial mainstream. The core participants engaged in insightful discussions encompassing vital topics within the credit union movement, including ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number) lending, DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion)-related initiatives, forging partnerships with the Mexican consulate network and community-based organizations, sharing credit union field experiences, exploring cross-border credit union collaboration, and leveraging technology platforms to cater to the needs of Hispanic and Immigrant populations.
Knowing that we’re stronger together, we saw a need to bring everyone together to find ways to empower and support our Hispanic and multicultural communities.
With seven Juntos Avanzamos designated credit unions in the Pacific Northwest, establishing a Northwest Regional Chapter seemed like a logical next step for collaboration, exchanging insights, and fostering synergies.
Steven Stapp, President, and CEO of Unitus Community Credit Union
The formalization of a regional roundtable and permanent working group represents another groundbreaking moment in the evolution of Juntos Avanzamos as the national standard for credit unions serving the Hispanic and Immigrant markets.
We recognize and celebrate the leadership, commitment, and support of everyone who came together to reaffirm our goal to position credit unions as the financial institution of choice for the Latino community.
Pablo DeFilippi, EVP of Inclusiv Network
The inaugural Roundtable event featured distinguished thought leaders, underscoring the commitment to this cause. Notable attendees included Victor Corro, CEO Coopera Consulting; Samira Salem, Vice President Diversity, Equity & Inclusion CUNA; Natasha McAdoo, ACCESS Program Officer NCUA; Edgar Hernandez, Senior Manager, Multicultural Business Strategy at TruStage; Luis Eduardo Jara, Director WOCCU Latinoamérica; alongside dedicated credit union leaders championing the cause of serving our Hispanic and Immigrant communities, as well as representatives from trusted entities, such as Carlos Quesnel Melendez, General Consul of Mexico in Portland and Nicole Davison León, Executive Director of the Hispanic Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce of Oregon.
I am thrilled that NLCUP gets to be part of a historic event such as the launch of this chapter. Our communities need and want safe places, and this is exactly why the creation of chapters is critical to our industry. NLCUP will stand behind this initiative and continue supporting the formation of these chapters across the nation.
Barbara Mojica, Executive Director, NLCUP
The Juntos Avanzamos program is an amazing opportunity to reach, support, and celebrate our local Hispanic community. As a Juntos Avanzamos credit union, Point West believes that the continued growth in awareness and collaboration amongst Juntos Avanzamos credit unions will strengthen our collective ability to provide accessible, affordable, and equitable financial services to Hispanic members and their families here in the northwest.
Amy Nelson, President, and CEO of Point West Credit Union
The annual Northwest Juntos Avanzamos Roundtable will return in August 2024.
About Unitus Community Credit Union
At Unitus, we’re dedicated to improving lives in the communities we serve. As a member-owned local credit union, we invest in people by doing the right thing. Through partnerships with nonprofit organizations, we provide support for community groups through volunteerism and financial donations. Our 105,000 members count on us to serve them and their communities; our 300+ employees share that passion for service. Learn about the local impact Unitus makes by visiting unitusccu.com.
About Point West Credit Union
Point West Credit Union is a not-for-profit, member owned CDFI credit union headquartered in Portland, Oregon. With a bilingual staff ready to help its members achieve financial empowerment, Point West works with its community partners to bring inclusion and equity to the underserved and needed capital to local microenterprise businesses—all with an unwavering commitment to its members and cooperative development. Find out more today at www.pointwestcu.com.
