Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1512417
e year 2023 ended on a challenging note. e cost of necessities remained high, mortgage rates failed to improve much, and many people were left feeling the economic squeeze. However, there remain a lot of reasons to be optimistic. e job markets in North Alabama and Middle Tennessee are strong. Incomes are rising, and so are the interest rates on savings accounts. Responding to our members in need is what sets Redstone Federal Credit Union apart from for-profit financial institutions. Serving members of modest means is a primary reason Redstone was formed 73 years ago and remains essential to who we are as an organization. T hat's why, dur ing the economic stressors of 2023, Redstone looked for innovative approaches and partnerships to help our members who were being squeezed the hardest. p. 5 | Valentine's Date Night Ideas p. 11 | Nominate a Communit y Champion p. 15 | Meet Eugenia Graves Send your comment s, suggestions, or questions to: ASPIRE@REDFCU.ORG facebook.com/RedstoneFCU @redstonefcu Editor: Patricia Dedrick Lloyd TABLE OF CONTENTS 2 | r e d f c u.o r g Must be eligible for membership and open a share savings account to obtain any product or service. A minimum balance of $5.00 is required to open share savings account and must be maintained in share savings account at all times. Fees and other restrictions may apply. RFCU © and its affiliates are committed to fair, equitable, and nondiscriminatory practices. 15 5 One such partnership is our work with the Huntsville Housing Authority to address the challenges to homeownership faced by first-time homebuyers. Affordable housing is important to a thriving community and helps build long-term wealth. In March of last year, Redstone was the signature sponsor for an inaugural affordable housing summit: "A Place for Ever yone." It was held in conjunction with the United Way of Madison County and invited developers, realtors, financial institutions, ser vice providers, and the government to collectively look at the affordable housing issue. It's an issue that affects people whom we don't usually think of as low to moderate income, such as teachers, public ser vice workers, childcare providers, and healthcare workers. Our community needs these individuals, and they need housing. Continued on page 5