City of Milwaukee Financial Empowerment Center

05/28/2026

We’re thrilled to share some exciting news!

The Riverworks Financial Clinic, which houses the City of Milwaukee Financial Empowerment Center, has officially been named a finalist for the 2026 MANDI Awards’ Associated Bank Trailblazer Award!

This recognition reflects the incredible work happening every day to help individuals and families across Milwaukee build financial stability, reduce debt, improve credit, access safe banking, prepare taxes for free, and create brighter futures.

We are deeply grateful to our staff, volunteers, partners, funders, and supporters who continue to believe in this mission and invest in our community. This honor belongs to all of you.

Thank you to LISC Milwaukee and the MANDI Awards for recognizing the impact of community-centered financial empowerment work.

We are proud to stand alongside so many inspiring organizations working to strengthen Milwaukee neighborhoods and create opportunity for all.

Please join us in celebrating this milestone and cheering on the Riverworks Financial Clinic team!

https://www.youtube.com/live/P5qks0wQn9M?si=GROQOYyyCioZEfqv

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THE WAIT IS OVER! Get ready for the big reveal — the 2026 MANDI Awa...

05/22/2026

💵 Take Control of Your Money with a Budget! 💵

A budget is simply a plan for your money. It helps you make sure your bills are covered, avoid running out of money before payday, and build savings for the future.

Getting started is easier than you think:

✔️ List your monthly bills and expenses
✔️ Add up your income
✔️ Compare what you earn to what you spend
✔️ Track your spending throughout the month

Budgeting can help you:
✅ Reduce stress
✅ Reach financial goals
✅ Prepare for emergencies
✅ Build savings over time

Even saving a small amount each month can make a big difference. Start where you are and build from there!

If you need help creating a budget, we've got you! Call us at 414-882-7430 and schedule your appointment with one of our financial counselors today. Our services are always free!

05/22/2026

The City of Milwaukee Financial Empowerment Center was proud to attend Milwaukee’s “Back 2 Block: Reentry & Opportunity Night” at City Hall as part of MKE Peace Week.

Hosted by Employ Milwaukee, the Office of African American Affairs, and the Office of Cavalier Johnson, this important event focused on second chances, economic opportunity, and connecting justice-impacted individuals with resources that support long-term stability and success.

We were honored to share information about our free financial counseling, credit-building support, and pathways to greater financial empowerment. Strong communities are built when people have access to opportunity, support, and the tools to move forward.

05/20/2026

05/11/2026

Since almost everyone carries a phone with them at all times, fraudsters are continually devising new ways to try to cheat us out of our money with tricky phone calls and text messages. Consumers can lose a lot of money, including a lifetime of savings, in a phone scam. Whether they pretend to be our friend or threaten us with harm or misfortune, scammers will do what it takes to get our cash and steal our personal information.

To bring you the latest advice on avoiding phone scams and on reducing the number of unwanted phone communications, Consumer Action is offering the "Hang up on unwanted calls, texts and scams" webinar on May 12, 2026. Monica Vaca and Kati Daffan, consumer protection attorneys with Vaca Daffan Law, will discuss:

• How phones are used in common scams and ways to detect and avoid fraud
• How to block unwanted calls and texts and deal with robocalls
• Using the Do Not Call Registry to reduce unwanted marketing calls
• Protecting against identity theft
• Resources for helping community members avoid fraud and get help if they experience a scam

Click below to register for the 60-minute "Hang up on unwanted calls, texts and scams" webinar.

05/11/2026

This report entitled “When the Wheels Come Off” from The Century Foundation argues that soaring auto loan debt has become a major driver of financial instability for American households, particularly among low-income and financially vulnerable borrowers.

The authors found that U.S. auto debt reached a record $1.68 trillion in 2025, fueled by rising vehicle prices, higher interest rates, longer loan terms, and increasing insurance and maintenance costs. Many households are relying on seven-year loans just to afford monthly payments, but these loans dramatically increase lifetime borrowing costs and often leave borrowers “upside down” on their vehicles.

The report also shows that people with auto loans accumulate credit card debt faster than those without them, suggesting car debt is cascading into broader financial distress. Low-income borrowers, rural residents, and Black, Hispanic, and Native American consumers are disproportionately harmed through higher balances and steeper interest rates, while weak oversight and predatory lending practices further intensify the burden.

Over the past several years, American households have been crushed under the growing burden of debt; in few areas is this more evident than in the realm