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CUNA has entered a strategic collaboration agreement with the National Sheriff's Association in support of its Inmate Growth Naturally and Intentionally Through Education (I.G.N.I.T.E.) program, which aims to teach incarcerated individuals life skills including money management, the credit union trade association announced Monday.
Going forward, the two organizations will work together to pinpoint opportunities to connect inmates with credit union resources designed to help set them on a path to financial well-being, according to the announcement.
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"U.S. recidivism rates continue to be alarmingly high, and a lack of financial education can impact an incarcerated person's ability to find and keep employment, transportation and housing after they've served their time," CUNA President/CEO Jim Nussle stated. "Credit unions are the original consumer protector and many of them offer financial education and counseling services, so this is a natural fit. It's also an extension of our collective mission to promote financial well-being for all, particularly those who face barriers."
"Financial literacy and support are important and too often lacking for those incarcerated in our jails. With IGNITE's strategic collaboration with CUNA, we will make significant inroads to assist inmates returning to society. America's sheriffs greatly appreciate CUNA for its support, insight and expertise as we work together for stronger, safer and more secure communities across the nation," stated Jonathan Thompson, executive director of the NSA, which represents more than 3,000 elected sheriffs nationwide and has approximately 14,000 members.
IGNITE currently operates in the following four counties and city: Michigan's Genesee County, Minnesota's Hennepin County, North Carolina's Mecklenburg County and Roanoke City, Va. By the end of fall 2022, the program will have launched in three additional locations: North Dakota's Cass County, Ohio's Sandusky County and Collin County in Texas.
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Natasha Chilingerian
Natasha Chilingerian has been immersed in the credit union industry for over a decade. She first joined CU Times in 2011 as a freelance writer, and following a two-year hiatus from 2013-2015, during which time she served as a communications specialist for Xceed Financial Credit Union (now Kinecta Federal Credit Union), she re-joined the CU Times team full-time as managing editor. She was promoted to executive editor in 2019. In the earlier days of her career, Chilingerian focused on news and lifestyle journalism, serving as a writer and editor for numerous regional publications in Oregon, Louisiana, South Carolina and the San Francisco Bay Area. In addition, she holds experience in marketing copywriting for companies in the finance and technology space. At CU Times, she covers People and Community news, cybersecurity, fintech partnerships, marketing, workplace culture, leadership, DEI, branch strategies, digital banking and more. She currently works remotely and splits her time between Southern California and Portland, Ore.
