Exchange Partnership with NCUF’s Development Educators Program

(February 27, 2007 – Washington, DC)  Today, the the Federation, publicly announced the Credit Union Development Corps, a new program that will create exchanges between Credit Union Development Educators (known as CUDEs, or more simply as DEs) and the Federation’s network of Community Development Credit Unions (CDCUs).

The new program will harness the extensive network DEs to create meaningful exchanges with established CDCUs across the country. 

DEs will visit CDCUs for up to two weeks, during which time they will have the opportunity to learn how these innovative institutions are able to effectively serve their low-income members with limited resources and staff.  Conversely, a representative from participating CDCUs will then spend one to two weeks at the DE’s institution learning about the typically-larger credit union’s programs and operations.

“These will be incredibly eye-opening experiences for the participants,” explained Rosenthal.  “In order for this program to work, it is essential that both parties learn from one another, and I am confident that will be the case.  We believe that these exchanges will create strong partnerships between the participating institutions -- partnerships that will bring together large and small CUs, foster the cooperative spirit, and create a stronger and more unified credit union movement.”

At the end of his presentation, Rosenthal jested about the elusive DE secret handshake. “Since my staff who are DEs won’t teach me the handshake, I created my own, which represents our vision of this program.”  Bringing his two hands together with the pointer fingers outstretched Rosenthal declared, “One: one movement, one philosophy!  This is our vision.”

The announcement was met by much enthusiasm from the standing-room only audience of DEs and credit union leaders, with a number of people volunteering on the spot to sign up.

Major support for this program has been provided by the Ford Foundation and by CUNA Mutual Group.

The Credit Union Development Corps will begin accepting applications from interested DEs in the coming days.  The program will be coordinated by Pamela Owens and Pablo DeFilippi on the Federation’s staff, both of whom are also Development Educators.  Tom Decker is coordinating the program for the National Credit Union Foundation, who has become the steward of the Development Educators Program.

CDCUs wishing to participate in this program should contact Pamela Owens at (800) 437-8711, Ext. 215 (powens@cdcu.coop), or Pablo DeFilippi at ext. 204 (pablo@cdcu.coop).  Interested DEs should contact Tom Decker at tom@hickorycreekconsulting.com.

Rosenthal Shows the audience the new "One Movement" handshake of the Credit Union Development Corps.

© 2007 National Federation of Community Development Credit Unions.