Page 23 - June 2023 FOCUS Magazine
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lansingchamber.org SPECIAL SECTION: LRCC 2023 ANNUAL DINNER
CASE Credit Union Receives Diversity Star Award
By: Cionne Casanova, Kolt Communications, Inc
ASE Credit Union has been named where he has been
the recipient of the Diversity serving for the last 13
CStar Award for its outstanding years. He has made it
commitment to fostering equality and his mission to make
diversity in the workplace. This award sure the company’s
which is presented by the Lansing actions reflect what
Regional Chamber of Commerce they stand by.
(LRCC) and the Lansing Economic Area
Partnership (LEAP) is given to companies “When I first got into my role there was
and organizations inside of the Lansing definitely a lot of work to be done, we’ve
area that show what it means to not only been very intentional in promoting
create inclusive environments, but also diversity not only our board but our
support the underserved. employes as well so that everyone feels
they have a voice here. Our employee
“I was born and raised in Lansing. As a base as of now stands at around 35-40%
child I was bused to all white schools for diverse peoples.”
as they started to desegregate them so
from an early age equality was a huge part of my life,” CASE is also a Community Development Financial
said Jeffrey Benson, president & CEO, CASE Credit Union. Institution (CDFI) making sure that at least 60% of their
total lending/services benefit low-income communities.
Benson has been in the credit union industry for over 30 CASE also takes pride in helping the unbanked and
years and carried his experience into his position at CASE underserved by providing services like Responsible
Rides, which provides car loans to people with low
credit scores as long as they show they are have some
sort of income and a few other minor factors. They
also have Ingham Country jail program that provides
financial literacy for inmates who once released can
open a CASE account.
“Credit unions were founded on
people helping people and we really
live by that. Not just affluent people
but everybody deserves to have
financial services. I am so humbled
to receive an award like this because
we live this every single day,” said
Benson. “It is so important that
we reflect the community that
we are in. When you walk into a
Benson
CASE Credit Union you should feel
comfortable working with us and comfortable that we
will understand you as an individual.”
Benson doesn’t plan to stop there either. With current
ideas in the works for programs they already have in
place, as well as a staff invested in seeing what they can
do next,there is no end to the work that can be done to
continue to serve the community.
“Our work is never going to stop,” said Benson. “We’re
going to continue to be intentional with making sure
diversity, equity and inclusivity is a part of who we are.” l
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