Announcement
When refugees arrive in Phoenix, a new phase of their journey begins as they learn about US systems which enable them to better integrate into their new community. Building financial independence is a key factor in this successful integration. Over the past decade, the IRC has partnered with Desert Financial Credit Union to increase financial literacy and financial independence for these new Americans.
Photo: Nicky Walker
According to Desert Financial Credit Union’s website, “Our hope is that consumers will begin to engage in routine money management practices, have positive financial attitudes, behaviors and skills. We want to help transform lives by providing tools and resources to help people achieve financial success.” Desert Financial Credit Union has generously offered financial support of IRC’s financial literacy efforts over the years. And on a more personal level, one staff person has become part of the IRC family.
Sulie Richardson is the Community Education Program Manager at Desert Financial Credit Union. She began her work with Phoenix refugees by teaching IRC’s Financial Literacy classes starting eight years ago. Through the years, Sulie has taught hundreds of refugees. Many of her students had never even used a bank before. Sulie was the first person to talk to them about personal credit and the importance of planning for a healthy financial future. The topic of saving and planning was foreign to most of her students, many who had never had the luxury of envisioning a future. Sulie made the topic come alive by sharing personal examples. She challenged her students to set goals, and encouraged them to craft a vision of what was possible as they started new lives in Phoenix.
Photo: Nicky Walker
Sulie now offers these trainings to the staff of non-profits so that they too can become financially healthy, and also be better equipped to coach their clients on these topics. She recently visited the IRC to teach a workshop to IRC staff on creating a savings plan. According to Sulie, “Budgeting is by far my favorite topic because I think it’s the foundation to everything else when we want to achieve financial wellness.”
Twenty IRC staff attended the workshop from varied backgrounds including case managers, Community & Economic Development staff, Education program staff and Development. Phyllis Korogodsky, IRC’s Loan Officer has worked with Sulie for many years. “What can I say about Sulie Richardson? I loved working with her when we were volunteering for the financial literacy program at the IRC. She epitomizes the three “E’s” of presentation on her subject of financial well-being: she is enthusiastic in her delivery; she engages the audience; and she provides a ton of educational ideas for her participants.”
Sulie gave a dynamic and engaging workshop where she shared her own personal experiences and the tools that had helped her through challenges. As a result of having staff that are better versed in this area, IRC’s clients will benefit greatly from staff’s increased knowledge and the tools and tricks that Sulie shared during the workshop.
Photo: Desert Financial
Aysar Al Khafaji, IRC’s Parenting Coach said, “I realized I was only thinking about these things, but I appreciated the idea of actually writing down financial goals and making them visual reminders. I feel like I have a plan now. I will share this with my family as we work out our plans together.”
“Sulie is a wonderful presenter. She was able to make a topic that would typically be very dry into something fun and engaging,” said Whitney Haruf, IRC’s Clinical Therapist.
Sulie will be back to the IRC in September to teach IRC staff about how to deal with debt. In the meantime, staff will meet with refugee clients and be better able to discuss creating a realistic savings plan and reaching savings goals that will give refugees hope for their future in Phoenix.
We are grateful to Sulie for being a champion for refugees for over a decade, and for being a part of the IRC family. We look forward to continuing our partnership with Desert Financial Credit Union.
Story by: Nicky Walker, Development Manager. Photos by Nicky Walker and Desert Financial.