Self-Help Shares

Juneteenth (short for “June Nineteenth”) is a holiday commemorating the end of chattel slavery in the United States. It marks the day in 1865 that news of the Emancipation Proclamation finally reached Galveston, TX, letting the last people who were enslaved in the U.S. know they were free. It is considered a second Independence Day and is also called Freedom Day or Emancipation Day.

Juneteenth became the newest federal holiday in 2021, which means many of us are still learning about its significance. At Self-Help, we’re honoring this important holiday by getting a better understanding of the meaning behind some of the iconic Juneteenth symbols and traditions.

^{Tae Park, entrepreneur and borrower with Self-Help Credit Union, stands outside his grocery store, International Foods, in Raleigh, NC. Circa 2012.}

While most of us have adjusted to living in a post-lockdown world, it’s hard not to acknowledge the deep, lasting impacts that COVID continues to have on our lives.  

In this article, we discuss the challenges that AANHPI businesses have faced due to the pandemic and how we can uplift these businesses this Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month and beyond.

This May, Self-Help is honoring Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month!

To achieve our mission of economic opportunity for all, we are actively working to close the racial wealth gap. But too often, AANHPI communities are left out of conversations about economic inequality and financial empowerment.

In this post, we explore some of the dynamics that affect the financial well-being of AANHPI people and share some financial tips for people in the AANHPI community.

At Self-Help, we honor Black History Month by highlighting some of the many stories, people and issues that resonate with us. We acknowledge that diversity and inclusion are some of our strongest tools in our work towards authentic equity. We note where we could do better, and we celebrate successes. 

But just as we don’t practice gratitude only on Thanksgiving or offer affection to our loved ones only on Valentine’s Day, we also don’t just celebrate Black history during February. Instead, we aim to integrate celebration, equity and inclusion into our work throughout the year.

We appreciate that many within our community have a similar year-round commitment to equity. In this post, we share a snippet of a recent conversation between Kimberly Jones, Vice President and Director of Partnerships & Community Engagement for our Midwest region, and community leader and entrepreneur Sarah Ware. We hope you find it as thought-provoking as we did!

^{April Snow Gilbert, Area Manager, stands with the Black history display in Self-Help Federal CU’s Chatham branch in Chicago.}

It has been a festive February at Self-Help as we celebrate Black History Month! The nationwide theme for 2024 is “African Americans and the Arts.” Our branches are marking the occasion in a variety of special ways, ranging from live music and art exhibits to neighborhood tours. Otherwise, lifting up Black achievements and recognizing Black history as America’s history is just part of who we are and the everyday work we do to expand economic opportunities for all.

Here are just a few examples of Self-Help activities this month.

 The theme for Black History Month this year is “African Americans and the Arts.” In honor of this theme, we're kicking off Black History Month with a guest post by Self-Help's VP of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Dr. Quinton Smith.

In his post, Dr. Smith (or "Dr. Q" as he prefers to be called) explores the history of Black art in America and beyond, underscoring just how important the contributions of Black artists have been to our culture.

Over the next four weeks, Self-Help staff and members across our branches will celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. As I join with my colleagues in the celebration, I find myself reflecting on what “Hispanic Heritage" means to me.