Economic Growth United States Project #8880

Save Up Program

by RISE Foundation, Inc.

Project Report | Jun 29, 2026
Unlock the Door to Homeownership with Save Up!

By Carmanise London | Save Up Senior Program Manager

Thank you Memphis for packing the room at the Benjamin Hooks Library for our Unlock the Door to Homeownership Workshop!

Hosted by RISE Memphis as part of National Homeownership Month, the workshop featured insider tips from lenders and industry experts to provide attendees with a clear action plan. The session covered:

Credit Management: Strategies for understanding, repairing, and improving credit scores to qualify for mortgages.

Budgeting: Advice on managing personal income, reducing debt, and preparing financially while still renting.

Mortgage Options: Real information on different types of home loans and what lenders look for during application reviews.

Local Resources: Connections to down payment assistance programs, homebuyer grants, and specialized matched-savings opportunities like the RISE Save Up program.
A special shoutout to our RISE Memphis board member John Werkhoven of Evolve Bank for moderating an incredible panel featuring:

Camille Davis-Holmes — Real Estate Agent

Denise Bowen — VP Community Development & Mortgage Advisor

Kelvin Martin, Stephen Rodda & Ronald Smith — Mortgage Officers

Thank you to our amazing community partners: @first_horizon, @theorionfinancial, @bankparagon, @memphishabitat, Shelby County Down Payment Assistance, @unitedhousing, and @gmfec for making this experience possible!

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