PODCAST: Embracing diversity during Black History Month

Micah Grant and Carolyn Jordan view Black History Month as a time Black people can share their culture and tell their story. They also view it as something that should be taught, learned, and celebrated all year long.

Grant, assistant vice president of communications at $4.1 billion asset SAFE Credit Union in Folsom, Calif., and Jordan, chief growth officer at $1 billion asset Neighborhood Credit Union in Dallas, have seen how diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts have changed throughout their time in the credit union industry.

“In the early years of my career, there wasn’t much diversity overall in the credit union movement,” Jordan says. “I was the first and only Black person for several credit union-related boards and committees in which I served in the early 2000s. It’s fabulous that this is changing now, and I have noticed it for several years. The trend of having vice presidents and officers directly responsible for DEI reflects a deliberate and strategic focus on these efforts.”

In this episode of the CUNA News Podcast, Jordan and Grant discuss the DEI landscape, Black History Month, and their careers.

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

In this episode:

0:52: Grant's start in credit unions and current role

1:45: Grant's tips for collaborative communication

3:14: What Black History Month means to Grant

4:36: How Barack Obama's election was a groundbreaking moment in DEI

5:18: How SAFE Credit Union celebrates Black History Month and why it's important to recognize it and days like it

6:30: Grant's experience with California Black Media

8:18: Jordan's introduction to credit unions

10:30: What credit unions mean to Jordan

15:28: Jordan's style of leadership

16:34: Jordan's thoughts on Black History Month

18:45: How Jordan has watched DEI efforts shift during her 42 years at Neighborhood Credit Union

20:20: Jordan's interests outside of work