Whitney Anderson, Board Chair of the African-American Credit Union Coalition has accepted the position of Executive Chair for the Generation Boost initiative, a national multi-partner coalition focused on building financial capability and generational wealth for African-Americans. This initiative serves low-to-moderate income (LMI) households with a specific focus on enhancing the wealth building knowledge base and proactive decision-making skills for young adults ages 18 to 34. Please visit www.generationboost.org for additional information.
Anderson brings both executive leadership and community development expertise in the credit union sector, and most recently served as the Chief Executive Officer at Elements Financial. Anderson also previously served as the Chief Community Development Officer at MSU Federal Credit Union, and Executive Director of the Desk Drawer Fund. Previously as the President of Ever Green 3C Financial Wellness, she delivered tools that enabled credit unions to build financial literacy with their members and communities through interactive digital content delivered through a customized website and mobile app experience.
Anderson remarked “We look forward to expanding our work in several key markets – including Atlanta, Dallas, Minneapolis, Detroit, and Washington DC. Generation Boost pilot programs have already created impactful partnerships with community-based organizations and local financial capability providers. As we continue to scale, our wealth building community of practice will augment numerous existing financial wellness programs in order to help LMI households to thrive and not just survive. We must create an understanding of generational wealth and how Black families can fundamentally shift their trajectory, and thereby close the racial wealth gap.”
Generation Boost coalition co-founders include the African-American Credit Union Coalition, GreenPath Financial Wellness and the American College Center for Economic Empowerment and Equality® at The American College of Financial Services. Through a collective impact model catalyzing numerous additional community-based program partners, the Generation Boost wealth building initiative will:
- Amplify evidenced-based financial capability programs serving students, young adults, and LMI families
- Increase access to financial coaches and financial advisors with a track record of serving LMI families
- Promote access to beneficial products and services that build a secure financial future and retirement
- Support learning communities that build financial capability for youth and young adults
- Elevate fintech platforms that support healthy financial behaviors through gamification, rewards, etc.
- Highlight successful examples of wealth creation by African-American households through ordinary means such as home ownership and small-dollar stock marketing investing