The African-American Credit Union Coalition (AACUC), inducted three credit union leaders into its Hall of Fame during an induction reception Tuesday at the CUNA Governmental Affairs Conference (GAC). Charles Alston, Sr., Pamela Owens and Clifford Rosenthal were honored at the awards ceremony and networking event.

Alston has been a volunteer of Aberdeen Proving Ground FCU, Edgewood, Md., for 30 years and currently serves on its board of directors and as chairman of the credit appeals committee.

Owens has over 20 years of experience supporting community development credit unions delivery of products and services to underserved communities, with special attention on innovative product development, training and technical assistance.

Rosenthal is the author of Democratizing Finance: Origins of the Community Development Financial Institutions Movement. An internationally recognized leader in bringing financial services to low-income and minority communities, he led the National Federation of Community Development Credit Unions (now Inclusiv) for more 30 years.

“These trail blazers actively demonstrate the importance of diversity and inclusion within the credit union movement. We are proud to recognize their diligent efforts which embody the cooperative pillars that our industry stands upon,” said Renee Sattiewhite, executive director of AACUC.

The non-profit organization of African-American professionals and volunteers in the credit union industry also announced several new initiatives during the Hall of Fame induction ceremony:

• Virginia Credit Union League President Richard Pillow announced that the league will donate a $2,000 scholarship in board Secretary Lynette W. Smith’s name annually for a credit union employee from a Virginia credit union to attend the AACUC Annual Conference;
• FIS announced that they will be giving a $2,000 Scholarship for five years in Maurice Smith’s name because they are so inspired by his contributions to the credit union movement and to be a collaborator for the eighth cooperative principle; and
• PSCU will be collaborating with AACUC and sponsoring a webinar series – Women’s Power.

►Read more conference coverage from CUNA News, and get live updates on Twitter via @CUNA_News,@cumagazine, @CUNA, and by using the #CUNAGAC hashtag. You can also follow the conference on Facebook and Instagram. For a complete schedule and information on keynote speakers and breakout sessions, visit the CUNA GAC event page.