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Founded in 1989 by the directors of the Mission Area Federal Credit Union, Mission Community Financial Assistance (MCFA)
is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization designed to carry out community development programs for its members whose needs
cannot be met by the Credit Union and other local financial institutions. The Youth Credit Union Program (YCUP) began in
August 1996 as a partnership between our non-profit organization, MCFA, our affiliate the Mission Area Federal Credit Union
(MAFCU), the Mission Economic Development Association, the South of Market Foundation, and Arriba Juntos. The major
funding to date has come from a start-up grant from the Mayor's Office of Community Development, as a part of its San Francisco
Enterprise Communities program. MCFA operates with a board of directors and 2 full time staff. In addition, a group of parents
whose children participate in the YCUP meet monthly to provide support and feedback to the program staff and board.
After an extensive outreach effort in the Mission and South of Market neighborhoods throughout the fall of 1996,
youth between the ages of 6 and 18 began working together to create California's first youth-run credit union program.
This core group of 50 youth from both neighborhoods researched similar programs throughout the country and developed
a business plan for the program. After electing a five member youth board of directors (with one representative from each
of four age groups), two youth assistant managers, and one youth manager, they trained to serve as tellers within the program.
The San Francisco Youth Credit Union Program officially opened for operations in May 1997. In addition to the elected positions,
YCUP's staff includes members of four youth committees who continue to work on the development of new program services,
ranging from educational workshops to a loan program. As a group, the youth continually evaluate program policies and structure,
which builds on their problem-solving and critical thinking skills.
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