DALLAS–A first-of-its-kind program in credit unions for youth ages 12-18 that is designed to “educate and inspire” the next generation of cooperative leaders is now set for August as part of a week-long program. Organizers are now sharing additional details about the program, the second year of which is to be held in Kenya.
As the CU Daily first reported here, a varied group of leaders from within the credit union community, many of whom are graduates of the National CU Foundation’s Development Education (DE) program, have come together to back the new “Youth Immersion Program.”
In year one, participants will spend a week at IslandWood, the 250-acre learning center on Bainbridge Island, Wash.
The program is being led by a committee that includes Mary Beth Spuck, CEO of Resource One Credit Union in Texas; Lois Kitsch, the former national program director with the NCUF who is now active with the African Cooperative Development Foundation; Brandi Stankovic, principal with Strategic Advisory Solutions; Katy Zaleski, VP of human resources with Simplicity Credit Union; Jenefer Machovina, director-international with TruStage; Debbie Wege, cooperative community advocate with BECU; Matt Vance, marketing and product development manager at Salal Credit Union; Danielle Brown, chief engagement office with the NCUF; Lindsay Spuck, and Jill Nowacki, president and CEO of Humanidei.
TruStage is supporting the effort by providing all of the program materials, according to organizers.
Below, Spuck shares additional details on the program, why it has been created and that the objectives are.
The CU Daily: How did the idea for a Youth Immersion Program come about?
Spuck: The Youth Immersion Program started with a simple question among a group of Development Educators (DEs): How do we prepare the next generation of leaders for the credit union movement? We spend a lot of time helping adults discover cooperative principles, servant leadership, and financial inclusion, and we realized we should start those conversations much earlier.
The idea really took shape after several of us traveled to Kenya as part of a DE experience. We saw firsthand the impact of bringing young people together to learn, serve, and grow as leaders. On the flight home, we kept asking ourselves, “Why aren’t we doing something like this for youth connected to the credit union movement?”
That conversation became the Youth Immersion Program. Our goal isn’t to create another summer camp. We want to create an experience that helps young people discover who they are, learn how to work with others, understand the impact they can have on their communities, and develop a lifelong appreciation for the cooperative philosophy of people helping people.
The CU Daily: How many participants are you seeking, how are you spreading the word about the program and what is the cost?
Spuck: Our maximum capacity for the inaugural program was 40 youth, and we had 38 participants between the ages of 12 and 18 register. As summer has gotten closer, we’ve had some cancellations due to sports, school activities, family vacations, and other commitments, so we still have a few spots available. We’d love to have 20 to 25 youth join us this August.
The response from the credit union movement has been incredible. Credit unions, leagues, foundations, industry partners, executives, and DEs have all helped spread the word through podcasts, newsletters, conferences, social media, and personal outreach.
We’ve also been overwhelmed by the financial support. Thanks to a $10,000 grant from the Cornerstone Foundation, along with donations and sponsorships from across the movement, we’ve raised more than $22,000 to help make this program possible.
The cost to attend is $800, but we don’t want finances to prevent anyone from participating. Thanks to a recent scholarship grant from the Cooperative Development Foundation, assistance is available to help cover all or part of the registration fee for families who need it.
The CU Daily: Will the young people who are participating have some connection to credit unions, such as family?
Spuck: Yes. Most participants have some connection to the credit union movement through parents, grandparents, family friends, or mentors who work within the industry.
That connection is important because we want participants to understand that credit unions are about much more than transactions or financial services. Credit unions exist to improve lives and strengthen communities. This program gives young people the opportunity to experience those values in action.
At the same time, we also hope the program expands beyond just “credit union kids” over time. The cooperative principles and leadership lessons being taught are universal and beneficial for any young person.
The CU Daily: This program is being overseen by Development Educators (DE): Explaining development education to adults can be a challenge; how do you explain it to potential youth participants and what is the appeal?
Spuck: We try to explain development education to youth in a much simpler and more relatable way. We tell them this program is about discovering who they are, learning how to work with others, and understanding how they can make a positive impact in the world around them.
The curriculum is designed around the concepts of “Me, We, and It.”
“Me” focuses on self-awareness, leadership, and understanding personal strengths.
“We” focuses on teamwork, empathy, collaboration, and community.
“It” focuses on solving real-world challenges and thinking about how we improve society together.
The appeal to youth is that this is not a classroom experience. It is hands-on, interactive, and experiential. Participants will spend time outdoors, work through team challenges, engage in leadership activities, and have meaningful discussions about issues impacting their communities and the world.
Most importantly, they will build relationships with other young people from across the country and from Kenya who share a desire to lead and make a difference.
The CU Daily: Tell us more about how this program will work? What will the curriculum be and who built it? What will a day be like for participants at IslandWood?
Spuck: The Year One experience will take place at IslandWood, which provides an incredible setting for immersive experiential learning.
The curriculum was developed collaboratively by a group of Development Educators with diverse backgrounds in leadership development, financial education, community engagement, and cooperative philosophy. We also worked closely with IslandWood to incorporate experiential learning and environmental education into the experience.
A typical day may include leadership exercises, team-building activities, reflective discussions, cooperative simulations, outdoor learning experiences, environmental exploration, and problem-solving challenges. Participants will also engage in activities connected to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and discuss how those concepts connect to their own communities.
The environment encourages curiosity, collaboration, and personal growth. We want participants to leave not only with new knowledge, but with greater confidence, stronger leadership skills, and a broader perspective on the world.
The CU Daily: In Year Two the plan is to take the program and participants to Kenya. Why, and what will participants be doing?
The Kenya experience is intended to expand participants’ understanding of global communities, cooperative development, and servant leadership.
Credit unions and cooperatives play an important role in many communities throughout Africa, and Kenya provides an opportunity for participants to see firsthand how cooperative principles can create economic opportunity and social impact.
Participants will engage with local youth, schools, cooperatives, and community organizations. The experience will focus heavily on cultural exchange, leadership, service, and learning from one another.
Our hope is that participants gain a deeper understanding that leadership is not confined to one community or one country. The challenges and opportunities people face around the world are often interconnected, and cooperative thinking can be a powerful tool for positive change.
In addition to the educational and service experiences, participants will have the opportunity to experience one of the world’s greatest natural wonders, a Kenyan safari. Our hope is to time the trip to coincide with the Great Migration, when vast herds of wildebeest and zebra make their incredible journey from the Serengeti to the Maasai Mara, creating an unforgettable once-in-a-lifetime experience.
The CU Daily: Why would or should this program matter to credit unions?
Spuck: Credit unions were founded to improve lives and strengthen communities, but the future of our movement depends on the next generation. We often ask where our future members, employees, volunteers, executives, and board leaders will come from. The answer is simple; we have to start developing them today.
The Youth Immersion Program is designed to build that pipeline by introducing young people to cooperative values, leadership, financial inclusion, and service. Whether participants pursue careers in credit unions or simply become leaders in their communities, they will carry forward the philosophy of “people helping people.”
This isn’t just an investment in youth; it’s an investment in the future of the credit union movement.
The CU Daily: What is your goal for participants once they have completed the program? And is the goal to make this an annual thing?
Spuck: Our goal is for participants to leave the program with greater confidence, stronger leadership skills, a broader worldview, and a deeper understanding of the impact they can have in their communities.
We also hope they develop lifelong relationships with one another and remain connected to the cooperative movement in meaningful ways.
This is absolutely intended to become an annual initiative. We view Year One at IslandWood and Year Two in Kenya as the beginning of something much larger. Over time, we hope to continue expanding opportunities for youth leadership development and create a sustainable pipeline of future leaders grounded in cooperative values.
The CU Daily: How does someone get more information?
Spuck: Individuals interested in learning more, supporting the initiative, or donating can contact me directly at [email protected] or visit the Youth Immersion Program information page and donation link.
To register, go here.
