Join us for our October CTC Friday Conversation: “The Power of the Vote: Civic Engagement and Political Empowerment as Election Season Approaches.”

As election season draws near, this conversation will explore the powerful connection between civic participation and the credit union movement’s core values of democratic governance, community empowerment, and cooperative economics.

Credit unions were built on the principle of “people helping people,” and voting is one of the most powerful expressions of that mission. In this session, we’ll examine how strengthening voter engagement, particularly within Black communities, aligns naturally with advancing financial inclusion, economic justice, and member-driven impact.

We’ll also highlight how credit union advocacy is shaped at the ballot Principalbox, and why every vote carries weight in shaping policies that matter to our industry, including the preservation of the credit union tax exemption, regulatory relief, member business lending caps, and continued support for Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) funding that sustains minority-serving and underserved communities nationwide.

You will leave this session with a deeper understanding of how civic engagement strengthens not only our democracy, but also the cooperative model at the heart of the credit union movement.

Our esteemed panelists are:

• Dar'shun Kendrick, Georgia State Representative, District 95, Georgia House of Representatives
• Ophelie Maurice, Associate Director of Political Action & Engagement, America's Credit Unions
• Adrian Velazquez, Chief Advocacy Officer, Cooperative Credit Union Association

Shelton Roulhac, Founder and Principal of Thompson-Roulhac Solutions will moderate this session. 

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Keep reading to learn about our panelists and moderator. 

Dar’shun Kendrick
Georgia State Representative, District 95
Georgia House of Representatives 

Dar’shun Kendrick represents Georgia House District 95, serving East DeKalb and South Gwinnett counties. Elected in 2010 at age 27, she has held numerous leadership roles focused on criminal justice, technology, economic development, entrepreneurship, and public policy. An attorney, investment adviser, author, and entrepreneur, Dar’shun founded Kairos Capital Legal Advisors and co-founded the bipartisan Georgia Future Caucus. She also launched Georgia’s Technology, Innovation & Entrepreneurship Caucus and founded the Tech for All Policy Conference. A graduate of Oglethorpe University, the University of Georgia School of Law, and Kennesaw State University, she is committed to expanding economic opportunity and access to capital.

Ophelie Maurice
Associate Director of Political Action & Engagement
America’s Credit Unions

Ophelie Maurice is the Associate Director of Political Action & Engagement at America’s Credit Unions. She currently leads the political engagement strategies for Democratic candidates and helps facilitate the connection with Credit Union advocates and their elected officials. Before her work in the credit union industry, Ophelie ran Farm Credit Council’s Political Action Committee where she used her deep knowledge of PAC compliance to educate members on what the PAC is and how best to leverage it. Ophelie got her start as a political consultant at Kieloch Consulting, here she handled all PAC fundraising and operations for Congressional Campaigns. Ophelie holds a B.A. in Political Science from Fairleigh Dickinson University. 

Adrian Velazquez
Chief Advocacy Officer
Cooperative Credit Union Association

Adrian Velazquez serves as Chief Advocacy Officer of the Cooperative Credit Union Association, leading government affairs, advocacy, and regulatory compliance for nearly 200 credit unions serving 5.5 million members across four states. An attorney and public policy leader, Adrian brings experience in legislative counsel, financial services, real estate law, and political advocacy. Born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, he holds degrees from Universidad del Sagrado Corazon, Harvard University, and Suffolk University Law School. Recognized among Massachusetts’ ALX100 most influential Latinos, Adrian is a member of the Massachusetts Bar Association and a passionate champion for credit unions and communities.

confidence, and purpose.

Shelton Roulhac
Founder and Principal
Thompson-Roulhac Solutions

Shelton Roulhac has more than 15 years of experience as a communications and public policy leader. As founder and principal at Thompson-Roulhac Solutions, Shelton advises clients on strategic engagement with policymakers, crisis responses, and organizational messaging. 

Shelton previously served as the director of strategic communications at IREX, vice president of communications at the National Association of State Credit Union Supervisors, and senior director of advocacy at America’s Credit Unions.

Shelton holds a Bachelor of Science in economics from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, and a juris doctorate from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.