[Charlotte, North Carolina | October 12, 2020] — Donnetta Collier is the new Financial Capabilities program manager for Self Help Credit Union. In this new role, Donnetta will provide financial coaching and homebuyer education to credit union members in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Donnetta joined Self-Help in 2000 as a mortgage loan officer and quickly moved on to become a project manager on the real estate team. Over her 30 plus year career working in affordable housing, Donnetta has been able to assist over 1000 families become homeowners. More recently through the creation and oversight of a pre-homebuyer education – financial literacy program that has helped increase affordable homeownership opportunities in the Grier Heights community and throughout Charlotte.
Providing safe and affordable credit to low and moderate-income neighborhoods, including communities of color, is an integral part of Self-Help’s mission of homeownership and economic opportunity for all.
A recent mortgage lending statement issued by the Center for Responsible lending, a Self-Help affiliate organization, illustrates why education financial capabilities training is critical. Disparities in homeownership are a key contributor to the ongoing racial wealth gap and home equity still plays a central role in shaping family wealth for the middle class. The racial wealth gap contributes to the fact that in the 46 largest housing markets in the country, a median income Black household can only afford 25 percent of homes on the market last year in comparison to the 57 percent that a median income white household could afford.
In addition, abusive payday lenders are over concentrated in communities of color despite the reality that their customers must have viable bank checking accounts to qualify for loans.
“Donnetta’s experience and leadership will be a tremendous asset to Self-Help as we lay the ground work for creating a local center focused on financial counseling for the Charlotte community,” said Claudie Johnson, Self-Help Credit Union City Executive based in Charlotte. “
Donnetta will collaborate with organizations in the region to host financial workshops and classes at the Self-Help Beatties Ford Branch, to help members achieve their financial life goals.
Donnetta has a bachelor’s degree in business management from Northeastern University in Boston. She holds an associate’s degree in Human Resources and other professional accomplishments include Housing, Economic, and Real Estate Finance Development Professional Program certifications, which explores techniques to successfully finance affordable homeownership and rental housing development. Donnetta holds a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Duke University and earned enhanced problem-solving and measurement skills through her Six Sigma Green Belt. She has been as a licensed real estate broker since 2002.
Self-Help Credit Union is part of the Center for Community Self-Help (Self-Help), a leading national community development financial institution headquartered in Durham, NC Since 1980, Self-Help has provided more than $9.3 billion in financing to over 175,700 families, families, individuals and businesses. We help drive economic development and strengthen communities by providing responsible financial services; lending to individuals, small businesses and nonprofits; developing real estate; and promoting fair financial practices across the nation. Through our credit union network, Self-Help serves more than 167,000 people in California, Florida, Illinois, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and Wisconsin.
More information about Self-Help Credit Union can be found at self-help.org.
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