Inclusiv/Black Communities, formerly known as Inclusiv’s African American Credit Union Initiative, is a program for small and faith-based credit unions serving predominantly African American communities. As part of this initiative, Inclusiv has been working closely with Minority Depository Institutions (MDIs) in New York City, Chicago, and the South to showcase their many years of combined experience and continued relevance to the communities they serve.
Over the past 25 years, the wealth gap between black and white Americans has nearly tripled. Today, the typical African American household has accumulated less than one-tenth the wealth of a typical white household. Pew Research Center reports that in 2013 median white household wealth in the U.S. totaled $140,000 vs. $14,000 for Hispanics and $11,000 for African Americans. Economic advantages – including higher income, less debt, more home equity, retirement savings – accrue over time, creating wealth that gets passed on to the next generation.
Black credit unions provide financial services to some of the most underserved communities in the United States. Credit unions are the better choice for all consumers, but they are the best choice for low- and moderate-income earners. African American credit unions help their members build assets and credit, manage debt, and lay the foundations for building generational wealth.
To learn more about Inclusiv/Black Communities or the Racial Equity Fund, please contact Monica Copeland at mcopeland@inclusiv.org.