CONNECTIONS CREDIT UNION
Community Development Financial Institution
Community Partners
NOTE: COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROTOCOL
Before engaging, discussing, or organizing any initiatives with external organizations, whether non-profit or for-profit, the organization's name must be shared with the CDFI coordinator or the Marketing Department for preliminary review and approval. This initial meeting ensures alignment with our organization's goals and values, as well as dedication to our community engagement protocols. Once approved, additional discussions and collaborations can begin I (or Aaron, if I am not around) must be present in every meeting or conversation involving community partners or anything related to doing something in the community. Thank you!
The Community Council of Idaho (CCI) is an organization dedicated to making a real difference in our community. CCI is deeply committed to affordable housing, providing farm worker housing with the support of the United States Department of Agriculture. They also offer employment training opportunities and essential services like community family clinics. The Familias Unidas Program is one of CCI's most exciting programs. This effort intends to provide legal immigration services, making it more straightforward for individuals, families, and entire communities to obtain cheap legal counsel and efficiently navigate the immigration system. Our partnership would be to assist these individuals in achieving financial freedom and independence through the Familias Unidas Program.
Family Advocates is a non-profit organization whose mission is to strengthen families and keep kids safe by empowering everyday people to protect and enrich the lives of youth. They offer two extensive programs: the National Casa Program and the Family Education Program. The National Casa Program is a program that allows you to become a mentor and advocate for children. The Family Education Program reaches all populations and demographics, teaches and trains them with skills to strengthen bonds within families, and sends them into the community armed with the strategies needed to build a healthier family unit. Our partnership is to help them by volunteering in their activities, supporting their mission, and offering financial resources to families in their programs.
The Idaho Association of the Education of Young Children is a non-profit that helps communities build quality programs and provide early learning opportunities to Idaho’s children through various initiatives and collaborations. They are vital for communities across Idaho to provide our children with quality early learning resources and education opportunities. They offer early learning resources and childcare. In addition, they also offer family and child connections, providing information and resources for early educators, families, and communities across Idaho to support the success of all children. Our partnership is to help them by volunteering in their activities, supporting their mission, and collaborating with them in organizing financial resources for young kids and their families in the community.
NeighborWorks Pocatello is a CDFI created by the community in 1993 to revitalize the central neighborhoods of Pocatello. They help families in all stages of home ownership through home purchase rehab programs, homebuyer education, financial fitness and counseling, and home maintenance workshops. They are a progressive alliance between residents, businesses, and government that revitalizes targeted areas by empowering people, creating safe, healthy neighborhoods, providing affordable, stable housing opportunities, and building community pride. Our partnership is to help them by volunteering in their activities, supporting their mission, collaborating with them in organizing events that promote community engagement, and having their support with homebuyer education and counseling.
Economic Opportunity non-profit that provides education and financial resources to vulnerable populations, small businesses, and startups. Their programs and services are tailored to support Idaho's underserved community and those who would not traditionally qualify for outside financial assistance. They provide the following programs: one-on-one coaching on basic financial literacy, which is commendable. The gradual progression into more complex topics, including business development, aligns well with our mission. Micro-lending programs, offering credit-building and personal emergency loans, are impactful. The dedicated refugee settlement program for newcomers and the self-sufficiency program supporting entrepreneurs in their journey are inspiring initiatives. Our partnership is to help them by volunteering in their activities, supporting their mission, and collaborating with them ​on educational initiatives, with both teams volunteering to share insights on financial literacy and organizing events that promote community engagement.
West Ada School District school community whose mission is to prepare today's students for tomorrow's challenge. They offer different resources and organize events in the community to help their students and make sure they are aware of their community. Our partnership is to help them by volunteering in their activities, supporting their mission, collaborating with them in organizing events that promote community engagement, and promoting financial education classes to their students.
CSI Community Education offers enrichment classes designed to provide high-quality instruction in various subjects in a relaxed environment. Classes are taught by members of the community who are home-grown experts in their field of interest, by current or retired CSI instructors, or by guest instructors from out of the area. Our partnership is to help them by volunteering in their activities, supporting their mission, collaborating with them in organizing events that promote community engagement, and promoting financial education classes for the Hispanic community.
The Anne Grace Foundation is a non-profit organization that organizes family-oriented events for single parents and provides mutual aid. They also provide information on local resources for single parents and meet with parents in person twice a month for a support group where they can receive help and guidance. In addition, they provide crisis assistance, particularly to individuals who have recently become parents and are unsure how to proceed. They assist these individuals on a case-by-case basis. Our partnership involves volunteering, supporting their mission, organizing community engagement events, and providing financial education to single parents.
The English Language Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to newly arriving refugees and immigrants. Their approach involves providing English classes using a strengths-based and trauma-informed method, ensuring students learn a new language and thrive in their new community. Their mission extends beyond language proficiency, focusing on assisting refugees in settling in and navigating their journey in the United States. Volunteers are essential in supporting students' learning and fostering meaningful relationships with the community. Our partnership is to support their mission, volunteer, and provide valuable insights into financial institutions, guidance on opening accounts, tips on saving, and strategies to build credit.
Idaho Diaper Bank is a non-profit started in 2014 by a mother passionate about giving back to the community. Tracy assumed the leadership position 18 months ago, marking her first venture into the non-profit world after an international career. Currently, Idaho Diaper Bank partners with +45 agencies in the community, serving various target areas, including community schools, refugee agencies, and affordable housing institutions. These partners receive diapers for distribution, paying only an admin fee. Throughout the year, they organize events that offer sponsorship opportunities. In 2023, they distributed 19,000 diapers in the Treasure Valley and faced a monthly demand to assist at least 1,700 babies. Our partnership is to support their mission, to become ambassadors, assist with diaper drives, help package diapers at the warehouse, and engage the community, grow public awareness, and encourage people to support their work.