Common Cents

RISE is on the road again with our Common Cents curriculum. Common Cents helps the community to learn tools and techniques to assist them in developing useful spending plans (budgets) based on their available revenue.  It is RISE’s unique program that offers staff wellness through money management and financial literacy on site with the company. Common Cents engages individuals with limited education but positive financial experiences. 

Common Cents has proven to be affective in helping families with tools and techniques to make improved financial decisions across the city of Memphis. Our staff had the esteemed privilege of co facilitating classes to ensure interactive classrooms occur rather than one-way instruction with the Memphis Airport Authority.  RISE hosted a workshop for a staff of 30 onsite that covered classes that the staff wanted and they voted on what was important.   RISE ran with the topics chosen and made a special, targeted class for the company consisting of credit counseling, spending plans, budgets and creating action plans for their respective households.

Amy, a classroom participant, said, “This was the most involved class I have ever taken about credit and money.  I have only been to banks to pick up brochures.  I have never actually taken a class.  It helps to be interactive.”  Her co-worker Tamia stated, “I enjoyed having the different credit scores taped to me!  To visually see the differences in scores and have people ask questions helped so much.  No one was embarrassed.  Everyone could take away what they needed to help themselves and their families.”

Please help RISE to continue to spread education throughout the community! Consider donating!  Since 2001, our participants have created tools and strategies to help their families move forward.  RISE programs focus on the following core skills for adults: developing spending plans, establishing bank accounts, building and maintaining credit, saving for and purchasing assets such as homes and secondary education, and helping aspiring entrepreneurs open small businesses!