What Matters Now™: Insights from CUNA Mutual Group’s 2022 Multicultural and Multigenerational Financial Needs and Behaviors Study

Maricela Castillo is a Research Specialist, Multicultural Business Strategy at TruStage. She was born and raised in Milwaukee WI and graduated from UW-Whitewater in December 2019. She has been involved with the credit union movement since 2017 as an intern with CUNA Mutual Group and started her full-time career in January 2020. As a young professional in the credit union movement she is focusing on multicultural communities and how to make a brighter financial future for everyone.

Rassamy (rahd-SAH-mee) Smith is a Credit Union DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) & Multicultural Business Strategy Advisor at TruStage, with a background as a former educator turned instructional designer and DEI facilitator. Hailing from eastern Washington, Rassamy’s journey as a second-generation refugee born and raised in the PNW region instilled a deep understanding of the challenges faced by marginalized communities.

As the first and only college graduate in her family, she has harnessed her unique skills and experiences to empower credit unions in creating inclusive environments and fostering meaningful connections with multiculturally diverse populations. Rassamy is driven by a passion for creating positive social change and has developed innovative strategies that bridge cultural divides and promote equitable opportunities for all.