Leadership Profiles
Socially Responsible Investing
Ebony Perkins, Investor and Community Relations Manager
Ebony Perkins is a dedicated, solution-oriented social entrepreneur whose heartbeat is community. She has a demonstrated ability of working with investors and philanthropists to help them make smart and strategic decisions. As Self-Help's Investor & Community Relations Manager, Ebony helps groups and individuals invest funds in a socially responsible financial institution that supports communities of all kinds, especially those underserved by conventional lenders. Before that role, she served as the Donor Relations Manager at Central Carolina Community Foundation where she managed a system to engage and educate over 400 individuals and groups to help them achieve their charitable goals.
Ebony’s commitment to community investing is evident by her service and contributions to Women In Philanthropy, Durham Center for Senior Life, and the University of North Carolina MPA Alumni Board. Ebony was also recognized on the SRI Conference's inaugural 30 Under 30 List.
Ebony holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Claflin University as a summa cum laude graduate. She also has an Executive Certificate in Financial Planning from Duke University.
Nuray Ozbay, Policy and Impact Investment Associate
Nuray Ozbay leads Self Help’s efforts to cultivate mission-supportive depositors and impact investors within and beyond Self-Help’s California footprint. As a global movement and relationship builder, Nuray loves working with change-makers across non-profit, corporate, and public sectors. Her expertise is in intersectional gender equality, global civil society activism, social justice, and ESG investing. Nuray currently serves as a Board Director at the UN Women San Francisco Chapter and a National Expert on Violence Against Women at the European Women’s Lobby, the largest umbrella organization of women’s associations across Europe. Before joining Self-Help, Nuray spent 11 years in the social impact sector as a researcher, consultant, and non-profit leader across Turkey and Europe, working on issues including but not limited to immigration, women’s access to economy, financial literacy & inclusion, entrepreneurship, and care economy.
Kimberly Jones, Investment Associate
Kimberly's professional career spans both the nonprofit and community development financial services sectors, with expansive senior leadership roles in arts management; business and resource development; community relations; and corporate philanthropy. Currently, she's Self-Help's Investor Relations Manager, where she helps individuals and institutions align their banking and investments with their mission, vision, and values. Kimberly has held leadership positions that advanced the missions of creative organizations and community development financial institutions seeking to make a difference in communities in their footprint. She has been a founding board member of mission driven organizations that supported the growth and development of young artists, creatives, and professionals in the nonprofit sector.
In 2015, Kimberly was selected to be a PLACES Fellow with The Funders Network, where she explored the role of philanthropy through an equity lens in low to moderate income communities. She has served as a grant/award reviewer for organizations that championed organizational excellence, community development, and environmental sustainability. Kimberly has a BA in Political Science from the University of Minnesota-Morris and an MA in Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management from Columbia College Chicago.
Green Economy; Sustainable Society; Investing for the Environment
Melissa Malkin-Weber, Sustainability Director
Melissa has worked across a broad span of hands-on sustainability practices. At Self-Help Credit Union, she integrates the triple bottom line into the organization’s financial products, operations, and buildings portfolio. She led Self-Help to realize over $1.7 million in net present value from initiatives in this sector, including $180,000 energy savings in our own operations. Melissa previously directed the residential energy efficiency and indoor air quality research program at Advanced Energy and worked in industrial pollution prevention at RTI International. She earned her law degree from University of Michigan, and her Master's from UNC’s School of Public Health.
Shondra Tanner, Mortgage Lending
Shondra Owens Tanner brings her extensive experience and commitment to making mortgage loans for low-wealth families to her position as Self-Help's Director of Mortgage Originations, where she oversees all North Carolina home loan origination and new business development. Shondra's areas of expertise includes buying your first home, mortgage basics (documentation, closing costs, down payments), delinquency and loss mitigation (What is a forbearance and loan modification and what does that do to your credit?)
The Credit Union Difference
Last week we at Self-Help joined credit unions all over the world in celebrating International Credit Union Day – more about that below. First, we want to give you an update on a member we’ve featured in this space before: Mr. Lee Curry, a resident of the Chatham neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago. On October 22, Mr. Curry celebrated his 102nd birthday!
Sadly, in advance of Mr. Curry’s birthday we received a note from one of our managers, April Snow, telling us that Mr. Curry is not doing well. After a lifetime of living independently, he recently moved to a health care facility. We are thinking of him and praying for his health and strength.
Mr. Curry has spent countless hours in his garden and often helps neighbors garden, too. Photo: Andrea V. Watson
Mr. Curry became a customer of Seaway Bank many decades ago because he trusted that he could deposit his money there and receive fair and affordable services. We have been delighted and humbled that Seaway, now a division of Self-Help Federal Credit Union, has continued to earn Mr. Curry’s trust. At age 100 and beyond, Mr. Curry continued to visit us to do his banking, where he received VIP treatment every time.
We know that Mr. Curry is just one of many close relationships Self-Help branch staff have with members. All our branch staff have stories about members that have become like family. We get to know each other over time, and as we help members’ savings grow and provide loans for cars, homes and the holidays, we also have the privilege of hearing about their joys and concerns. We watch their children grow up, and we worry about them when they’re not well, as with Mr. Curry.
Taking Care of Each Other. During this time of the pandemic, it has been hard to be more distant from our members as we put safety first. Early in the pandemic, we expanded our remote services and encouraged members to use drive-thru service when possible. We also modified loan terms, deferred loan payments and waived fees for members impacted by illness and job losses. Today we are welcoming members in our branches when they wear a mask. We miss seeing their smiles, but we know that right now the most important thing is to take care of each other.
Credit unions have always embodied the philosophy of “People Helping People.” If you’re a member or a partner, you probably know why credit unions are different.
- We are member-owned, so we aren’t beholden to shareholders—member success and our success are one and the same.
- Members enjoy lower fees and higher interest on deposits.
- We get to know members and partner with people who are striving to build credit and achieve greater empowerment and prosperity.
- At Self-Help, our mission makes us different, too, as we work every day to expand financial opportunities for people who have faced systemic barriers to building wealth.
This is a long way of saying that last week we had a great celebration of International Credit Union Day. Since 1948, credit unions around the world have recognized this day on the third Thursday in October and celebrated the history and achievements of credit unions. At Self-Help, we have a tradition of providing special treats or giveaways to our members, just a small way to say thanks for being part of Self-Help. We had celebrations in all our Self-Help Credit Union branches (locations in Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia) and Self-Help Federal Credit Union branches (locations in California, Illinois, Wisconsin and Washington state).
Here are just a few snapshots from our celebration of International Credit Union Day:
Above photos: In Brevard, NC, our staff delivered lunch to members in the parking lot.
Charlotte, NC
Columbia, SC
Galax, VA
Greensboro, NC
Jacksonville, FL
Laurinburg, NC
Wilmington, CA
Wilmington, NC