Life in Transaction

What could possibly lure me away from working in the arts?

Although I lack the talent for it, I was born with the heart of an artist. Even as a young child I would find myself attracted to those who were cited as “different”. Women in long skirts, water-colored scarves soft as silk tied around their necks, fingers flashing turquoise and silver as they spoke about matters I couldn’t comprehend, yet beckoned to me with a pull that was mysterious and truthful.

These fanciful attractions were solidified in high school, where I eked out enough ability to become a student at the Perpich Center for Arts Education. There, on the sprawling campus of the old Lutheran College in Golden Valley, my artistic heart beat alongside my fellow classmates in perfect rhythm. Fresh faced, confident in our giftedness and place in the world, we shone with that particular mix of heartbreaking innocence and volatile arrogance that only a sixteen year old can sport.

While a career as a musician did not happen for me, I was delighted when many (many) years later I was able to work in the arts. I eagerly jumped at the opportunity to help start-up and grow a locally owned dance studio, the nMotion Dance Center. Opening in 2009, one of the worst times to start a new business, let alone delve into one based in the arts, I and the owner (who actually did possess the talent to call herself an artist), Sarah Barnett, accepted the challenge. We painted, we cleaned, we filed, we worried and worked hard with no end in sight, no money to be made, all in the name of dance. In between the spaces of holding our breath, Sarah created beautiful dancers out of ordinary people. It spoke to my old, artistic heart. And it spoke true.

I was David against Goliath. The underdog. I was part of the artistic minority, in noble pursuit to better our society by sharing our talents with others, leave some intrinsic beauty in the world. It’s who I became with a fierce pride and sense of identity; I worked in the arts, join me in my struggle! I sang it like a modern day Lorelei.

While Sarah made dancers, I was able to take my genuine love for people and community to build partnerships with local businesses, and develop creative projects that helped others. I had helped turn an art industry known for its’ exclusivity and elitism, into something inclusive and attainable for the many. The nMotion Dance Center became a synonym for the word community.

Imagine my surprise to be recruited by a financial institution.

I had worked with Financial One Credit Union on various projects. I found them to be community oriented (clearly, they often supported nMotion), the staff I had worked with were all very pleasant, hardworking , genuine folks. Really, they were one of the best work cultures I had come across in a very long time.

But still. It was a financial institution. They were after all, a bank, weren’t they? They were Goliath, wrapped in crisp hundred dollar bills, shiny gold coins strung about their ankles and waist. How could I possibly reconcile this?

What did I know about Big Banks, except that their bottom line is to make more money. That they can jingle their gold coins at me with aplomb; giving me poor customer service and hidden fees anytime they choose. Was this an industry I wanted to associate myself with?

Turns out, a credit union isn’t a bank at all.

Credit Unions were originally formed as an alternative to banks, usually created to support a specific type of business. Born in Germany in the 1850s, they first came to the U.S. in New Hampshire in 1908. They remain one of our best living American ideals, for they are (quite literally) made for the people, by the people.

Some things have changed since the first American credit unions, of course. Regulations have been put in place to ensure the same security of funds at a bank, are also given at a credit union. Board Members are democratically elected by, and are made up of other members. And the original concept of specialized credit unions has grown to include what’s called a community credit union, where anyone, no matter where they work, can receive the benefits of membership (Financial One is considered a community credit union).

What has remained the same, is that credit unions are a not-for-profit, financial cooperative. This means, all profits made are given back to members in the form of lower loan rates, lower fees and higher interest rates on deposits, with the addition of giving back to the community at large, in very big ways.

With all these good and differentiating things, credit unions are still struggling to compete with the Big Banks. Like me, a lot of people don’t know, or don’t think much about the differences between a bank and a credit union. We don’t see the irony that we will put our most important personal life goals (a college degree, our own business, retirement) into the hands of a very impersonal conglomerate. We chose convenience over the meaningful message of what our money could be saying about us.

We chose to give our money to Mr. Potter instead of George Bailey.

Financial One has been deeply involved in strengthening our communities. Not just writing big checks either (although they have given tens of thousands of dollars to anything from youth athletics, to solar energy, to scholarships). They have also volunteered hundreds upon hundreds of hours working. From cleaning up parks, to organizing large scale events for the Southern Anoka County Assistance food shelf, they walk the walk.

Understanding what a credit union is, knowing Financial One works hard to help their members succeed; I was able to make the hard decision to leave the arts to become their Director of Community Outreach.

This is a new position. A lot of thoughtful creation will be going into it at first and I want to hear from you-- whether you’re a member or not, it doesn’t matter. Whether you live in the exact cities we’re at doesn’t matter either. We serve our surrounding districts as well; including Fridley (one of my first projects is to support our own Fridley Tiger Football team). My goal is to listen and learn, find out how and what I can do to improve the community you live and work in, in real ways. I will be at the Coon Rapids location, although I am supporting our Blaine and Columbia Heights branches as well. Most often you will find me out in the community and not in any office at all.

With the charge of doing something meaningful for others, and the difficult challenge of communicating the differences between banks and credit unions before me, I find myself in a different theater, but really on the same sort of stage.

I am David against Goliath. The underdog. I am part of the financial minority, in noble pursuit to better our society by sharing our talent with others, leave some intrinsic beauty in the world. It’s who I continue to be, with a fierce pride and sense of identity; I work for a credit union, join me in my struggle!

I will sing it like a modern day Lorelei.

Financial One Credit Union is located in Minnesota. We have three branches, Columbia Heights, Blaine and Coon Rapids, and have been investing in our communities since 1933. Learn more about us at www.FinancialOneCU.com and find us on Facebook. Reach me directly at MandyM@FinancialOneCU.com to tell me how I can support your community efforts.

The nMotion Dance Center is in Fridley, Minnesota. They are proud to be one the few non-competitive dance studios in the Twin Cities choosing to be community oriented instead of competition focused. I will continue to help with various projects there. You can also catch me taking class-- for the as long as my body is able! Learn more atwww.nMotionDanceCenter.com