Twelve years ago, upon arriving in Syracuse, Milene found more than just a new city; she discovered “el banco de los Cubanos” (the bank of the Cuban people)—Cooperative Federal. Recommended by her neighbors, it became her initial financial anchor and a place where she felt truly understood in a new country. Years later, Milene pursued her dream of homeownership at Cooperative Federal, securing a mortgage and a Homebuyer Dream Grant in 2024 after facing initial setbacks elsewhere. Today, as a homeowner, Milene experiences profound peace and security, knowing, “you have something that a landlord cannot come and take away from you.” Looking ahead, Milene, a dedicated child daycare professional, envisions transforming her new home’s basement into her future daycare facility. For Milene, the credit union is more than a lender; it’s instrumental in building the foundation for her personal and professional aspirations.

Calvin, in his own words, is a “people person.” Born in Georgia and raised in Syracuse, he graduated from Fowler High and served in the US Army National Guard before beginning his 34-year career as a Bus Attendant in the Syracuse City School District. Calvin loves working with children of all ages and being part of the close-knit Syracuse community. His affinity for people and community connection is what drew him to CoopFed 15 years ago. “My friends told me about Cooperative and I walked in to the branch at Southwest, close to my house,” Calvin recalls. “All the staff have been so helpful and it’s just good for the community.” Calvin especially appreciates our Small Dollar Loans, which he has used four different times over the years to help manage car repairs and other major expenses—with flat monthly payments and no snowballing debt. “At times when I was short and needed a helping hand, Cooperative was really there for me, and I appreciate it so much,” he said.

Azariah is a serial entrepreneur whose lifelong passion for music ignited a remarkable journey. He has been a DJ, an artist manager, and produced major festivals both locally and across the US. But for Azariah, entrepreneurship has always been about more than business—it’s about transforming his life, and his community, for the better. Today, his diverse portfolio includes nonprofit consulting, youth development, a recently acquired wellness business, and his latest new venture: Yemma Estates. Inspired by his work with at-risk teens, Azariah observed a critical need: “What I noticed is that nobody in my community owns anything. It’s bare bones ... No sector of people can do well without ownership, that’s just the reality of it.” Yemma Estates is breaking this cycle by “buying back” properties from absentee landlords with a future vision of mentoring local youth in real estate. In 2024, CoopFed proudly supported Yemma Estates with both a working capital loan and a small business grant.

Faida learned about Cooperative Federal through her work with both Hopeprint and the Northeast Hawley Development Association (NEHDA), two local nonprofits dedicated to building community and revitalizing neighborhoods on Syracuse’s Northside. While learning about how CoopFed could help the Northside businesses she was advising, Faida realized that the credit union was just what she needed for herself, too. After getting caught up with a high-cost credit card during college, Faida needed to clean up her credit before she could buy a car. But instead of simply denying her application, CoopFed gave her a debt consolidation loan and advice to improve her score. It worked, and six months later she had her very own car. “When I was walking an hour in the cold to get where I needed to go, Cooperative Federal helped me,” she said. “The day I received that help, I shed genuine tears of gratitude. That support changed my life.”