Opportunity Knock$ event on Capitol Hill connects credit union leaders with Members of Congress

Kathleen Coulombe

More than a hundred people gathered Tuesday night to celebrate the intersection of storytelling, community, and financial empowerment.

In recognition of Financial Capability Month, Reps. Joyce Beatty, D-Ohio, and Young Kim, R-Calif., who are also co-chairs of the Congressional Financial Literacy and Wealth Creation Caucus, hosted The Opportunity Knock$ Congressional Panel Discussion & Reception.

Rep. Kim shared experiences from her own upbringing, and emphasized the importance of creating financial stability and opportunity, and passing the American dream onto the next generation.

Reps. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., John Mannion, D-N.Y., and Marilyn Strickland, D-Wash., also spoke at the event, touching on the challenges facing communities and how efforts by credit unions, CDFIs, and other financial partners provide solutions.

Leaders from the credit union movement—including America’s Credit Unions Chief Advocacy Officer Kathleen Coulombe--showcased how cooperative finance creates economic opportunity for hardworking Americans, as credit unions are featured within the Opportunity Knock$ series and participated throughout the event.

“Opportunity Knocks does something rare in today's media landscape. It shines a light on real families, real challenges, and real solutions, and it does so with dignity and hope,” Coulombe said during her welcome remarks. “By partnering with local credit unions, the show delivers a message that we in this movement have always believed: that no matter where you are financially, there is an institution in your community that will sit across the table from you, listen, and help you find a way forward.”

Creighton Blackwell, chief community and public affairs officer for Coastal Credit Union, emceed the event, which featured clips from the series, as well as two panel discussions on financial access, education, and coordinated support systems that help individuals and families build financial stability.

Max Villaronga, president/CEO of Raiz Federal Credit Union; Courtney Moran, executive director of the Cornerstone Credit Union Foundation; Sarah Waters, chief advocacy officer of the Tennessee Credit Union League; and Dina Shultz, chief revenue officer of Telhio Credit Union, participated on the panels. Several credit unions were featured as part of the series.

Other credit union leaders at the event represented the African-American Credit Union Coalition, MD|DC Credit Union Association and Foundation, Department of Labor Federal Credit Union, Financial Partners Credit Union, GoWest Credit Union Association, Labor Credit Union, Ohio Credit Union League, Pepco Federal Credit Union, SkyPoint Federal Credit Union, Southern Security Federal Credit Union, Suncoast Credit Union, The League of Credit Unions, and Topside Federal Credit Union.
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America’s Credit Unions, Leagues, and member credit unions’ strong showing at the event showcased the movement’s unified advocacy and commitment to creating economic opportunity and affordable solutions for Americans.

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