Metro Credit Union

Over the weekend, Chelsea, MA celebrated its 400th anniversary with a festive parade throughout the city on Saturday and a community day gathering and fireworks on Sunday at Mary O’Malley State Park overlooking the Mystic River. It was a joyful and nostalgic day for us, especially given Metro’s longstanding presence in the city. As you may know, we’re less than two years away from our own 100th anniversary celebration, and I’m proud that we’ve been part of the Chelsea community for all these years. 

Chelsea is a small but mighty city with a rich immigrant history and thriving culture. Since its settlement in 1624, Chelsea has been a haven for immigrants and minorities. In the years surrounding World War I, the city consisted of one of the largest Jewish communities in Massachusetts. Later, as the city faced a shrinking labor supply in the wake of the second World War, local employers began to recruit Puerto Rican agriculture workers. By 1980, with many Jewish families having moved to other communities in Massachusetts, Latinos made up 14 percent of the Chelsea population – a figure that continued to grow over the years thanks to the city’s willingness and commitment in helping immigrant families, especially those fleeing from civil war and violence in Central America. Today, the city has the highest percentage of foreign-born residents in Massachusetts, contributing to its vast and eclectic culture. Being part of this special community for so many years, Metro is proud to be a Juntos Avanzamos (“Together We Advance”) credit union, a designation given to credit unions that have demonstrated a commitment to serving and empowering Hispanic and immigrant consumers. 

Though the people of Chelsea have faced much adversity over the years, with two devastating fires occurring in 1908 and then again in 1973, the city is thriving with dozens of restaurants, bodegas, and bakeries serving international cuisine, a booming nightlife and art scene, and a strong business landscape. Much of this is in thanks to Metro partner and friend La Colaborativa – a non-profit designed to empower the Latinx community, enhancing social and economic health, and holding institutional decision-makers in Chelsea and the surrounding areas accountable. 

As you can see, there is so much to celebrate about Chelsea, so I hope you’ll join me in wishing the city a very happy 400th anniversary. I’d also like to thank the Metro employees who volunteered to march through the city over the weekend and represent our credit union at the parade. We are so proud to be a part of the Chelsea community and will always remain committed in helping all our members – whatever their background or wherever they’ve come from – achieve their dreams.