African-American CU Coalition to Host New Virtual Event on Social Inequalities

The African-American Credit Union Coalition will host a new virtual event in August that will launch a series of discussions among credit union professionals about how they can address economic, health and social inequalities that affect minorities in their communities.

“As Black professionals, we are eager to share insights from our unique experiences and exchange strategies with allies to help us build a more diverse and inclusive workforce so that we can impact the communities where we live,” Renée Sattiewhite, AACUC President/CEO, said. “I’m confident this new virtual format affords us even greater opportunity to reach more people and provide value that’s particularly relevant in this current environment.”

In a recent interview for a CU Times article, Sattiewhite said the AACUC, in cooperation with other national organizations, is working on a new national initiative to coordinate the industry’s actions against racial inequalities, which became a major focal point following the death of George Floyd while in police custody, sparking weeks of demonstrations across the nation.

The first step for the industry to address racial issues, Sattiewhite told the CU Times, is for credit unions professionals to have tough and candid conversations that can lead to a deeper understanding and acceptance.

The new virtual series is part of the organization’s larger initiative called, Commitment to Change: Credit Unions Unite Against Racism. The online series will be held in lieu of the organization’s annual conference scheduled for August 11-14 in St. Petersburg, Fla. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the conference was postponed until 2021.

The weeklong series will feature daily 90-minute virtual sessions led by expert panelists representing financial services, social justice, mental health and academia. Topics will include emotional fortitude, leadership during times of crisis, community action, and financial, economic and income equality within the context of being and serving people of color.

“As financial professionals, we believe credit unions are uniquely positioned to affect meaningful change in the fight against social injustice,” Sattiewhite said.

Soon after the death of George Floyd, the AACUC hosted virtual roundtables and listening sessions.

“This has been an incredibly complex time for the African-American community and has underscored the health, economic and social inequalities this community continuously faces,” Sattiewhite said. “We’re committed to staying engaged and developing opportunities where diversity, equity and inclusion take a front seat – because Black credit union professionals and Black communities matter.”

St. Petersburg, Fla.-based CUSO, PSCU, will be the event’s sponsor, and the $11 billion Suncoast Credit Union in Tampa, Fla., will serve as the local host for the virtual event.

The virtual event, which will be held from Aug. 10 to Aug 14, is free and open to the public. Event and registration information is available at www.aacuc.org.