Blog Posts | RISE https://risememphis.org Realizing. Income. Stability. Empowerment. Mon, 25 Aug 2025 14:54:30 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 https://risememphis.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/cropped-RISE-Logo-icon-32x32.png Blog Posts | RISE https://risememphis.org 32 32 Memphis event tackles cost of living and predatory loans https://risememphis.org/memphis-event-tackles-cost-of-living-and-predatory-loans/ Wed, 13 Aug 2025 16:02:28 +0000 https://risememphis.org/?p=3621

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MEMPHIS, Tenn. — As the cost of living continues to rise, some are turning to high-interest loans to help make ends meet.

That’s one of the reasons Rise Memphis and Microsoft hosted an event to teach people about financial literacy.

“It’s people signing up and not really fully understanding what they’re getting into, not understanding what those interest rates really mean on the back end,” said Executive Director Malcolm Rawls of Rise Memphis.

Rise Memphis and Microsoft are partnering up to show people how to plan their financial future and deal with the problem of predatory lending.

Financial planning was one of the big draws for the event on Tuesday and was the reason 25-year-old Brison Davis showed up, as he’s been trying to get a house for his wife and 5-year-old son.

“So you’re putting everything into an Excel spreadsheet as far as your actual spending, whether it’s household items and actually tracking it to see exactly what you’re spending your money on,” said Brison Walls, a Mississippi resident.

Brison said he has been savvy enough to stay away from predatory lenders. State Representative Antonio Parkinson said many young people haven’t been as lucky.

“It’s an incredibly big problem, it’s pervasive, most of the predatory lending organizations are in the black or minority communities, and that says a lot right, and a lot of them are owned by actual banks, believe it or not,” said State Representative Antonio Parkinson.

As far as a solution, both Representative Parkinson and Memphis Rise agree, the best way to beat predatory lending is to become financially literate.

“The official language is the United States is not English, and it’s not Español, it’s capitalism, so learn capitalism, so learn about the money and how the money flows and how the money can work for you,” said State Representative Parkinson.

According to DebtHammer, an estimated 12 million Americans fall victim to predatory loans each year.

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]]> RISE Memphis, Microsoft to host free financial literacy fair https://risememphis.org/rise-memphis-microsoft-to-host-free-financial-literacy-fair/ Mon, 11 Aug 2025 14:51:16 +0000 https://risememphis.org/?p=3601

MEMPHIS, Tenn.–Rise Memphis and Microsoft are teaming up next week to host a free community financial literacy fair designed to help Memphians build healthy financial habits.

Here to talk more about the partnership and the importance of financial literacy is the non-profit’s Executive Director, Malcolm Rawls.

]]> 5 Tips for Holiday Spending https://risememphis.org/5-tips-for-holiday-spending/ Thu, 16 Nov 2017 17:11:08 +0000 http://kqcommunicationssites.com/risememphis/?p=652
  1. Create a spending plan and commit to a spending limit. If you don’t set a specific dollar limit for holiday gifts, then your spending may grow out of control.
  2. Make a list of recipients and decide how much you are going to spend for each person.
  3. Shop with your list. It will help you stay on track and avoid impulse spending.
  4. Use cash instead of credit cards. When the money is gone, you will be forced to stop shopping.
  5. Comparison shop and use coupons.
]]> A Big “Thank You” to First Tennessee Bank! https://risememphis.org/a-big-thank-you-to-first-tennessee-bank/ Mon, 06 Nov 2017 17:07:52 +0000 http://kqcommunicationssites.com/risememphis/?p=649 First Tennessee Bank stopped by our office and presented RISE with a generous donation of $30,000 for our Goal Card and Save Up programs. The contribution will further the support of financial literacy for local students and adults. Thank you!

]]> RISE Gala 2017 – An Evening of Change in Emerald City https://risememphis.org/rise-gala-2017-an-evening-of-change-in-emerald-city/ Thu, 28 Sep 2017 17:22:55 +0000 http://kqcommunicationssites.com/risememphis/?p=658

Friends, you helped us raise a grand total of $125,000 at this year’s gala, which was held last month at Shelby Farms Park. Your generosity will help us continue our work of transforming the lives of our low-income Memphis neighbors through financial literacy. Thank you for making this year’s gala our most successful yet! Memphis, you’re the best!

Enjoy some snapshots below, or visit our Facebook page to view the entire gallery!

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