BELLINGHAM, WA (January 14, 2025)— Western Washington University (WWU) has partnered with WECU, a local credit union, to offer workshops on Spanish for financial services. This initiative aims to help WECU employees better serve Spanish-speaking members in Whatcom and Skagit County.
The program started in 2024 with 15 WECU employees and was led by WWU undergraduate students from the Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures. This collaboration benefits WECU employees and provides WWU students with valuable teaching experience.
“Creating a Spanish curriculum for WECU has been a wonderful opportunity,” said Wren Mason-Todd, a student instructor.
WWU faculty member Kirsten Drickey mentored the student instructors, who have also worked with Western’s Employee Language Program (ELP). This is the first time ELP facilitators have focused on financial services.
“Helping others with their language learning goals has been rewarding,” said Bryan Heredia, another student instructor. “Working with WECU employees was a new and satisfying experience.”
For WECU staff, these workshops are more than just training—they are a commitment to building stronger community relationships.
“Offering services in Spanish helps us connect with our diverse membership and ensure everyone feels valued,” said Kelly Helms, WECU Director of Learning & Development and former WWU Instructor. “By breaking language barriers, we can better support our members’ financial goals and contribute to a more inclusive community.”
Due to the program’s success, WECU plans to host more workshops and develop an online course for continuous learning. A Washington State grant for workforce development and community engagement funds the program.
About WECU
WECU is a member-owned, not-for-profit credit union headquartered in Bellingham, Washington. WECU was founded in 1936 as the Bellingham Teacher’s Credit Union. Today, it serves over 170,000 members with more than $2.8 billion in assets. WECU is committed to enhancing the financial well-being of its members and making a positive impact in the communities it serves.
