by Emily Hechler FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ST. LOUIS, Mo. (May 6, 2026) – Alltru Credit Union, a leading Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) serving the Greater St. Louis area, is pleased to announce the appointment of four new member to its CDFI Advisory Board: Barbara Davis, Kevin McKinney, Haidera Muhammad, and Alisha Sonnier. They will join the returning members, Elad Gross, Gina Hakenewerth, and J.P. Johnson.
The Alltru CDFI Advisory Board is a group of community representatives and experts who provide strategic guidance to the credit union. The group helps ensure the institution’s lending and financial services align with the needs of underserved communities, aiding in product development, partnerships, and market insight.
As a CDFI, Alltru must maintain its primary mission of promoting community development while serving one or more defined low-income target markets by providing financial products and services. In addition, Alltru maintains accountability to the communities it serves by reporting to its CDFI Advisory Board and Board of Directors quarterly.
“We are thrilled to bring these additions to our CDFI Advisory Board,” said Gina Hakenewerth, Chairwoman of Alltru Credit Union’s Board of Directors and CDFI Advisory Board member. “Their diverse backgrounds and experience provide us with a solid sounding board for our leadership while advocating for our community. I’m looking forward to working together to meet our community needs and helping create innovative services for our members.”
Barbara Davis is the Program Manager for the College Kids Program initiative of the St. Louis Treasurer’s Office of Financial Empowerment, working with organizations, including Alltru Credit Union, to improve college access, decrease racial inequities in educational attainment, and promote economic mobility for youth in St. Louis. Davis comes with experience in community development, project management, and cultural awareness to create meaningful educational and financial experiences.
Kevin McKinney is the Executive Director of the St. Louis Association of Community Organizations (SLACO). He manages the community-based organization representing 33 neighborhoods and a 37-person Board of Directors while focusing on bridging geographic and racial boundaries in St. Louis City. McKinney is also the owner of Housing 202 Ltd. and serves on the board of directors for Art Place Initiative.
Haidera Muhammad is a Senior Business Execution Administrator for Wells Fargo Advisor and is part of Wells Fargo Advisors leadership for their Digital Influencer and Digital SME teams. Muhammad brings experience providing quality and consultative service, analyzing performance trends, and identifying developmental needs to teams and partners.
Alisha Sonnier has been an Alderwoman of the Seventh Ward in the City of St. Louis since 2023. In her role, Sonnier focuses on economic justice, housing stability, and equitable development while tackling bold policy challenges. She is the Vice Chair of the Urban Development and Zoning Committee and member of the budget committee, public safety committee, legislation and rules committee, and health and human development committee. Sonnier also brings experience as a board member of various organizations in the St. Louis area.
To learn more about Alltru’s mission to serve the community, visit https://alltrucu.org/alltru-you/membership/what-makes-us-different/cdfi/.
About Alltru Credit Union
Alltru Federal Credit Union was chartered in 1968 as District 837 Credit Union by the International Association of Machinist Union members employed by McDonnell Douglas in North County St. Louis. Alltru is full-service Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) whose mission is to improve the financial well-being of its members. With over 40,500 members and more than $390 million in assets, Alltru has provided members with a full line of dependable financial products and services for 58 years. For more information about Alltru Credit Union, visit https://alltrucu.org/.
Media Contact:
Laura Woods – Vice President of Brand and Product Strategy (636) 916-8303; lwoods@alltrucu.org