Jessica Sharon believes credit unions deserve a bigger stage. “We don’t toot our own horn enough,” says the assistant vice president of financial outreach at $677 million asset Pelican State Credit Union in Baton Rouge, La.

Pelican State shares its good news on “Opportunity Knock$,” a PBS reality show that follows six families as they work with financial experts and local credit unions to take control of their finances. 

In this episode of the CUNA News Podcast, Sharon describes how Pelican State credit counselors do what they do best: improve members’ financial well-being.

“This is our mission. This is our purpose,” says Sharon. “I hope this shines a light on the credit union industry and how we're living our principles.”

You can listen to the CUNA News Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and Stitcher Radio.

In this episode:

0:23: Episode introduction

2:00:  Meet Jessica Sharon

3:43: The importance of financial education

6:03: Making personal connections through financial education

8:11: First steps of financial education

11:19: Opportunity Knock$

14:22: About Kimberly Gaines

16:03 Impact of Opportunity Knock$

18:22: Planning Opportunity Knock$

19:43: The White Family

21:19: Impact of COVID on financial education