Common Cents

The RISE Common Cents Program has seen a recent spike in requests for employee based financial literacy and education workshops and classes. Many employers have made these requests because of the financial setbacks faced by their employees caused by COVID-19 challenges and high loss of spousal income due to unemployment.

One benefit that employers are introducing into their employment packages is financial wellness seminars. RISE Memphis has received inquiries from local businesses trying to meet the demand of their workforce for ways to better manage their paychecks during these uncertain times. In past years requests would flow in from small businesses, non-profits or church organizations.  The world looks much different now and this has accelerated the need to expand our programming in recent times to now include requests from hospitals, manufacturing companies, and labor unions.  A desire to get ahead of a down turn in the economy has employees looking for proactive strategies and employers are meeting those demands by reaching out to proven and trusted resources.  

RISE has successfully worked with over 4,000 employees over the years to help them make better financial choices through our Common Cents programming. Common Cents, is a workplace financial education program, launched in 2005 in response to broad based concern about poor credit and bankruptcy issues in the Memphis area.

Common Cents offers area employers the opportunity to give hourly workers the gift of financial literacy and in doing so increase productivity, decrease absenteeism, and create greater workforce productivity. The curriculum features topics such as banking, budgeting, and spending strategies and debt management. Memphis-based employees from over 70 companies/organizations have successfully completed the Common Cents curriculum.  Your support of RISE programs like this are crucial to the betterment of communities in Memphis and the Mid-South.  It produces stable neighborhoods, financially prepared citizens and less reliance on governement programs.  An investment in RISE is an investment in Memphis.