Event brings together Hispanic community partners and advocates to advance financial inclusion in a vibrant, culturally inclusive celebration

Unitus Community Credit Union will host its third annual Juntos Avanzamos celebration at Unitus Plaza on August 22, 2023, from noon to 2 p.m. The event, originally a celebration of Unitus earning the Juntos Avanzamos (Together We Advance) designation from Inclusiv, has now expanded to bring together Hispanic community partners and advocates to advance financial inclusion.

Juntos Avanzamos is a designation for credit unions committed to serving and empowering Hispanic and immigrant consumers. More than 130 credit unions in 28 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico have earned this designation. In Oregon, Unitus Community Credit Union is one of four Juntos Avanzamos credit unions, along with Point West Credit Union, Embold Federal Credit Union, and Wauna Federal Credit Union. More than 10 million members benefit from what’s become the Hispanic financial inclusion standard.

At the Juntos Avanzamos celebration on August 22, guests will be treated to live entertainment from Portland State University’s Mariachi Rosa Real band, delicious food from the local Hispanic community, fun giveaways, and the opportunity to connect with community members, advocates, lawmakers, and industry leaders. Guest speakers include Carlos Quensel Melendez, lead counsel for the Consulate of Mexico in Portland, and Oregon State Representative Ricki Ruiz, who represents District 50 in Gresham and East Portland.

In addition to the Juntos Avanzamos celebration, Unitus Community Credit Union, Point West Credit Union, and Inclusiv are hosting the inaugural NW Juntos Avanzamos Roundtable. Industry leaders will gather on August 21 and 22 to explore strategies to empower and link our Hispanic and Immigrant communities to the financial mainstream. Discussions will include ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number) lending, DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion)-related topics, building partnerships with community organizations, credit union experiences from the field, and technology platforms to connect with Hispanic and Immigrant populations and meet their needs.

The Roundtable event will feature thought leaders including Pablo DeFilippi, EVP Inclusiv Network; Barbara Mojica, NLCUP Executive Director; Victor Corro, CEO Coopera Consulting; Samira Salem, Vice President Diversity, Equity & Inclusion CUNA; Natasha McAdoo, ACCESS Program Officer NCUA & Natasha Hewlett Deputy Chief, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, & Accessibility NCUA, and credit union leaders committed to serving our Hispanic and Immigrant communities.

“We are thrilled to partner with Point West and Inclusiv to host this inaugural roundtable event,” said Steven Stapp, President and CEO of Unitus Community Credit Union. “This gathering is a unique opportunity to celebrate our collective accomplishments and reflect on the impact we’re making as we engage with industry leaders, credit union professionals, community members, and organizations committed to advancing financial inclusion.”