Inspired by GoWest’s ongoing push to strengthen relationships with local policymakers, Mohave Community Federal Credit Union took community engagement a step further.

Leaders from the Kingman, Ariz.-based credit union, including CEO Carol Roby, EVP Ramona Baptista, and Marketing/PR Amy M. Carrera, recently participated in the City of Kingman’s Citizens Academy, a seven-week program designed to connect residents with local government leaders and operations.

Throughout the program, participants attended weekly three-hour sessions featuring open dialogue with city leaders and behind-the-scenes tours of key departments, including the fire department, police department, and public works. They also gained firsthand insight into city council procedures and municipal budgeting.

City of Kingman’s Citizens Academy Spring Graduation Class 2026

For Mohave’s team, the experience went beyond education.

“It was an opportunity to better understand how our city operates and to build deeper relationships with the leaders and community members we serve every day,” said Carrera.

The program culminated in a certificate of completion, presented during a City Council meeting on May 5 — a milestone that reinforces the credit union’s commitment to showing up and staying engaged at the local level.

Carrera encourages other credit union professionals to look for similar opportunities in their own communities.

“If you have a similar program in your region or town, take a leap and join in,” she said. “It is a great way to meet your local and regional leaders and connect with the community you serve as a credit union.”

By stepping into spaces like this, credit union leaders are strengthening relationships, deepening their local impact, and bringing the cooperative difference to life — one connection at a time.