Innovating for Good: CDFI Certification for Financial Institutions

Key Takeaways

Michaeljohn “Mj” Green
Deputy Director of Innovation & Economic Development, Miami-Dade County

Michaeljohn Green currently serves as the Deputy Director of Innovation & Economic Development for Miami-Dade County.  He previously served as the Vice President of Community Development at the Dade County Federal Credit Union and currently sits on the credit unions supervisory committee. He studied Management Information Systems and Economics at Harris Stowe State University and proceeded to work in grass roots organizing with Acorn but later found a home working for one the nation’s top CDFI's in Justine Petersen. His success and passion for finance lead him to jobs at Bank of America, JPMorgan, Well Fargo and The Bank of Montreal. While working with the Private Wealth Team at The Bank of Montreal managing over a half a billion dollars with not one black or brown client, creating wealth in minority communities has now become his calling. With that passion leading a Miami based Community Development Corporation and managing the CDFI seemed to be a natural fit.

As fund Manager of the Community Fund of North Miami Dade, Mj started a small business lending program focused on minority entrepreneurs. Most recently Mj has helped in the creation of The Rise Miami Dade Fund, a county supported program to support small businesses ecosystem though this current pandemic. The RISE Fund lent money to over 900 businesses in MDC in a 6-month period helping support over 4,500 families. Mj’s primary goal is to provide access to capital, technical assistance and financial resources to low- and moderate-income communities.  As well as working to support the diverse small business community in Miami, Mj is actively engaged in communities across the country and sits on the board of the Africa Town Community Land Trust, Leadership Miami Executive Team, First Place Scholars Board, Merit XP board, MDC Small Business Enterprise Board, and the African American Alliance of CDFI CEO's.  

Other than being an advocate for wealth in urban communities, Mj is a basketball fan, traveler and proponent of all things that help LMI Communities thrive. 

Alison Carr
Chief Strategy Officer, Your Credit Union Partner

Alison currently serves as Chief Strategy Officer for Your Credit Union Partner. In this capacity she supports: Community Development & Outreach Initiatives, Business Development, Speaking/Training Engagements, Strategic Partnerships and serves as a general Goodwill Ambassador for Your Credit Union Partner. 
 
Alison’s experience includes work at the State and National Trade Association level, as well as natural person credit unions ranging is assets from $50 million to $500 million, working in areas of Business Development/Marketing, Community Development, and Human Resources & Training. Throughout her career she has been actively involved with community outreach, developing partnerships and programs with special emphasis on DEI, more specifically, Hispanic and financial inclusion initiatives.  

Alison maintains a certificate in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in Human Resources from Cornell University and is a founding member and serves on the executive committee of the CU DEI Collective. Most recently she was asked to serve on the CU De Novo Foundation Board, to support efforts and innovation in the chartering of new credit unions and providing resources to the many small credit unions that are creating change in meaningful and sustainable ways for their members and communities. 

Alison is a past WYCUP Award recipient from the World Council of Credit Unions and served on the WYCUP Advisory Council from 2017 – 2020. Other volunteer activities include the NCUF Development Educator Advisory Council. Alison is a DE, I-CUDE, and holds a Master's Degree from George Fox University in Organizational Culture and Development and her PHR from the Society of Human Resource Mgmt. 

Originally from Portland, Oregon, Alison now calls Madison, WI home. When not evangelizing credit unions, you can find her spending time with her husband, 2 kids, 2 cats and 2 wild and rambunctious dogs.   

Moderator - Brett Wooden
Senior Vice President of Innovation, FTSI

Previously a Chief Operations Officer at a credit union in the Northwest, Brett Wooden was named the Northwest Credit Union Association’s Young Credit Union Professional of the Year in 2011, 2020 Credit Union Magazine Rockstar, and a Credit Union Times’ 40 and Under Trailblazer for setting a national trend using tablet technology to take financial services into the field. Brett thrives on helping others embrace and utilize new digital and mobile strategies in today’s changing world. He is a frequent speaker at CUNA and technology conferences around the country.