By Asia Nail
The Truth Reporter
For Edwin “Sky” Mabry, the story of Toledo Urban Federal Credit Union has always been about more than finances, it has been about faith, community and collective responsibility.
As one of the credit union’s original board members when it was chartered in 1996, Mabry witnessed the organization’s earliest days, when the vision of creating a Black-owned and operated financial institution required determination, teamwork, and a willingness to step into uncharted territory.
“I saw the need,” Mabry reflected. “As a business owner, I wanted to understand how a member-supported credit union could strengthen both my own knowledge and our community.”
Like many who would eventually help shape Toledo Urban’s future, Mabry found it difficult to turn down Cowell’s board invitation.
“Dr. Suzette has that magnetic appeal,” he says with a laugh. “She has a way of presenting an idea that makes you believe it’s possible, I just couldn’t say no.”
The early years were challenging, he recalled, because the board was building something entirely new while learning the responsibilities that came with operating a federally chartered credit union. Every decision represented new territory, but the mission remained constant: create a place where neighbors could strengthen their financial foundation and invest in future generations.
“It was an all-in or all-out proposition,” Mabry recalls. “Once we understood what needed to be done, we went after it.”
He remembers those early meetings as moments fueled by both determination and faith.
“We knew our community needed something to bring our financial energies together,” he says. “We believed God had already given us everything we needed, we just had to put it all together.”
Mabry credits the commitment of the founding board, community partnerships and Suzette Cowell’s unwavering leadership for helping transform an ambitious vision into a lasting institution. He recalled that many respected business and community leaders stepped forward because they believed the credit union could become something greater than any one individual.
Over the years, Mabry has watched Toledo Urban Federal CU grow from a grassroots effort into a trusted financial institution serving families throughout northwest Ohio. He remembers prayer breakfasts, partnerships with faith leaders and countless volunteers who understood that building a community institution required everyone working together.
Reflecting on the credit union’s 30-year journey, Mabry believes its greatest strength has never changed.
“Faith and belief that it can be done, that’s our foundation,” he says. “Especially in times like these, we need to pull our wagons together and unify.”
As Toledo Urban celebrates three decades of service, Mabry’s legacy remains woven into its history, a reminder that transformative institutions often begin with a few people willing to believe, serve, and build together.