ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Just listening to Robin Brulé detail all the hats she wears on a daily and weekly basis is tiring.
For starters, she is VP of community relations for $1.4 billion New Mexico Educators Federal Credit Union. Currently, she is "on loan" to the city of Albuquerque, working on integrating the Innovate Albuquerque project and obtaining grant funding from Living Cities — the latter an urban transformation cooperative whose objective is to improve the lives of low-income people and their cities by bringing together philanthropy, investors and the public sector to help these neighborhoods.
In addition, she has three children: one in college, one starting college next year and the youngest starting high school next year.
"I am working on the integration effort and report to the mayor," she told Credit Union Journal — when a reporter could finally get her on the telephone. "The initiative is amazing. It is about making change by working collectively. No one leader or system has created the societal challenges we face, and we need both public and private resources to succeed."
For all of her efforts, the National Association of Federal Credit Unions named Brulé Professional of the Year for credit unions with more than $250 million in assets.
According to NAFCU, Brulé has "redefined the role" of community relations, "transcending" the operations of the credit union.
"She has taken a holistic approach to her members, with the overarching objective of creating a community of educated citizens who, because of their knowledge, both financial and academic, become valued and informed members of NMEFCU," the trade group said of Brulé.
The goal of the Innovate Albuquerque project — also known as Innovate ABQ — is to stimulate local job growth. Because of the grant Brulé helped win, Albuquerque is one of only five cities that will receive millions of dollars in funding from Living Cities, invigorating and sustaining the Innovate ABQ initiative.
Partnered With CU
Before working for a credit union, Brulé's background was in large-scale system change. She was at the state's largest community college as director of the foundation, examining retention rates for most marginalized students.
"We found the No. 1 reason students drop out of school was financial hardship," she recalled. "We started a program to help them stay in school and graduate. My partner in that work was New Mexico Educators Federal Credit Union."
Brulé adapted a Center for Working Families workforce project for educational systems targeting improving student retention and graduation rates. Because of the success of this local model, it is now being used nationally.
"Most of my work has been in partnership with the credit union," she said. "I created credit-based programs helping lower-income families find tax help, and the credit union partnered with that."
When an opening came up at NMFCU, Brulé said it was a "natural fit" for her.
"I am going on three years this summer. I have always been familiar with credit unions, especially this one being my partner in several initiatives in the community, so I am very happy to work at a credit union."
Why CUs Were Created
Asked to say why NAFCU selected her for this award, Brulé replied: "The reason I won, I hope, is the work I do embodies why credit unions were created in the first place."
"We give individuals access to financial services, and the ability to succeed," she said. "We offer unique and innovative ways to assist people. We do not do things in isolation, we take into consideration the unique needs of the individuals we serve."
Besides being "shocked" when told she was a NAFCU Professional of the Year, Brulé said her reaction was it was a "tremendous honor and privilege."
"It is humbling and embarrassing because it is not just me, it is our entire team. This award goes to all of them."
"I love credit unions," Brulé continued. "They are so incredibly powerful and do so many wonderful things. They align beautifully with the work I have been doing my entire career. It is an honor to be part of this movement."
