{"id":20079,"date":"2026-07-16T15:56:34","date_gmt":"2026-07-16T15:56:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/?p=20079"},"modified":"2026-07-16T15:56:34","modified_gmt":"2026-07-16T15:56:34","slug":"delise-simmons-journey-of-service-financial-empowerment-and-legacy-at-toledo-urban-federal-credit-union","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/2026\/07\/16\/delise-simmons-journey-of-service-financial-empowerment-and-legacy-at-toledo-urban-federal-credit-union\/","title":{"rendered":"DeLise Simmons\u2019 Journey of Service, Financial Empowerment and Legacy at Toledo Urban Federal Credit Union"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"
Delise Simmons and Suzette Cowell<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

By Asia Nail<\/em>
\nThe Truth Reporter<\/em><\/p>\n

For DeLise Simmons<\/strong>, Toledo Urban Federal Credit Union <\/strong>has never simply been a workplace. It has been a mission; one built around helping people recognize their own power, overcome barriers, and create a stronger financial future.<\/p>\n

Her journey with Toledo Urban began before she ever became an employee. After seeing the vision behind the Toledo Urban\u2019s\u00a0 African American Festival<\/strong>, Simmons reached out to Suzette Cowell, ThD, to offer her support. What started as a willingness to help quickly became a deeper connection to an institution committed to serving the community.<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t know what I was getting myself into,\u201d Simmons recalls while laughing. \u201cI thought, this is so awesome that we have an African American organization that has started an actual festival for the community.\u201d<\/p>\n

That relationship eventually led Simmons to join Toledo Urban Federal Credit Union as Assistant Manager in 2012, a role she held until 2019. During that time, she witnessed firsthand the financial challenges many families faced, and the difference that education, patience and compassion could make.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou just assume that people know how to save money, apply for loans, and that their credit is together,\u201d she explains. \u201cBut unless you\u2019re in it, you don\u2019t know. I learned there was a great need, and the community needed people to care.\u201d<\/p>\n

Simmons became passionate about helping members understand credit, repair past mistakes and build confidence.<\/p>\n

Her message to members was simple but powerful:<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t do it for you, but I\u2019ll do it with you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Today, Simmons continues that commitment as a member of the Toledo Urban Federal Credit Union Board of Directors. Although she is no longer inside the building every day, her connection to the mission remains strong.<\/p>\n

\u201cI believe in the credit union,\u201d she shares. \u201cI don\u2019t see any reason why people wouldn\u2019t support it. It\u2019s needed; we are essential.\u201d<\/p>\n

For Simmons, the greatest milestones are not just buildings or celebrations. They are the families who now own homes, the individuals who have built credit, and the generations who have learned that financial success is possible.<\/p>\n

\u201cYour credit says yes, even when people want to tell you no,\u201d Simmons says. \u201cOnce you build your credit up, it speaks for you.\u201d<\/p>\n

After 30 years, she believes Toledo Urban\u2019s greatest legacy is the lives changed and the future still being built.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Asia Nail The Truth Reporter For DeLise Simmons, Toledo Urban Federal Credit Union has never simply been a workplace. It has been a mission; one built around helping people recognize their own power, overcome barriers, and create a stronger financial future. Her journey with Toledo Urban began before she ever became an employee. After […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6,250],"tags":[],"wf_post_folders":[356],"class_list":["post-20079","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-economy","category-local-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20079","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20079"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20079\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20081,"href":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20079\/revisions\/20081"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20079"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=20079"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=20079"},{"taxonomy":"wf_post_folders","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wf_post_folders?post=20079"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}