WESTconsin Credit Union’s Sara Janssen Earns Diversity and Inclusion Certificate

MENOMONIE, WI—WESTconsin Credit Union is pleased to announce Sara Janssen, Vice President of Member Engagement, has completed the Diversity and Inclusion Certificate program from Cornell ILR School. The program consists of 32 Professional Development Hours (3.2 CEUs), earned through the two-month long program. Participants of the certificate program take courses in counteracting unconscious bias, diversity and inclusion at work, and fostering an inclusive climate.

According to Janssen, “diversity and inclusion practices come naturally to credit unions. These practices are deeply rooted in our principals and our philosophy of ‘people helping people.’ I chose to attend the Diversity and Inclusion Certificate Program as an opportunity to look at our credit union through a new lens as we continue our focus on the changing needs of our members and employees.” She continues, “the Diversity and Inclusion Certification Program taught me that when people of different talents, ideas and backgrounds work together it can boost creativity and inspiration, and lead to new innovations in the way that we serve our members, communities, and each other. I am excited to take the next step in our journey by evaluating what diversity and inclusion means to our credit union and begin to develop strategies for our future.”

Upon completion of the program, Janssen is better educated in recognizing unconscious bias and how it affects the way that people perceive and react to others, understanding the dimensions of diversity that matter most in organizations, and assessing stereotypes and prejudices that may influence behavior in work groups and learn methods to improve the psychological safety of all employees. Additionally, Janssen has been provided with knowledge to examine strategies for implementing ethical standards

WESTconsin Credit Union has been serving members since 1939, and membership is open to anyone who lives or works in the Wisconsin counties of Barron, Buffalo, Burnett, Chippewa, Clark, Dunn, Eau Claire, Jackson, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Rusk, St. Croix, Sawyer, Taylor, Trempealeau, and Washburn, or the Minnesota counties of Anoka, Chisago, Dakota, Goodhue, Isanti, Ramsey, Wabasha, and Washington, with a $5 minimum deposit in a Membership Savings Account. Credit unions are financial institutions owned by their accountholders, and member funds are federally insured by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) up to at least $250,000.