Rickie Keys is the founder of Renewal Financial Services and an educator who has served as a senior fellow at the University of Denver’s Center for African American Policy. His work at the University of Denver included research on the connection between race and foreclosure in Denver. His research led him to start www.renewalfinancial.com as a way to provide financial counseling and education and also serve as an intermediary between banks and consumers. He also holds educational seminars at churches.

The program was originally held in Shreveport, Louisiana and Denver, Colorado, but he is looking to expand the program to every major city where there is a high concentration of ethnic minorities and people who have been adversely affected by the foreclosure crisis. Keys points out that the goal of his program is not to rehabilitate people’s credit scores but rather give them the tools and knowledge they need to make the right financial decisions; improving a credit score is simply a result of knowing how to make the right financial decisions.

Keys points out that he was motivated to teach others about economic and financial health because of the poverty he grew up around in the Magnolia Housing Project in New Orleans. This motivation has made him focus on helping those who operate in the fringe financial market including the unbanked, underbanked and thin-file customers. He combines financial education with providing products and services through the organizations network partners.

The following video is a clip where Keys discusses the motivation for his work as well as the services offered through Renewal Financial that can help consumers make better financial decisions and improve their financial position and credit score. He also discusses how Renewal Financial helps consumers understand their current situation and what types of financial services and products are available to them since most consumers are unaware of what is out there.

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Christine