RIVERWORKS DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

FINANCIAL CLINIC: EMPOWERS MILWAUKEE'S LOW- TO MODERATE-INCOME RESIDENTS WITH FREE, PROFESSIONAL FINANCIAL COUNSELING, TAX PREPARATION, AND COMMUNITY-BASED FINANCIAL EDUCATION. THROUGH ONE-ON-ONE COACHING, VITA TAX SERVICES, DEBT MANAGEMENT, FINANCIAL GOAL SETTING, AND BANKING ACCESS SUPPORT, THE PROGRAM HELPS RESIDENTS IMPROVE CREDIT, REDUCE DEBT, BUILD SAVINGS, AND ACHIEVE LONG-TERM FINANCIAL STABILITY. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT CENTER, RIVERWORKS CONTINUES TO EXPAND ACCESS TO FREE, HIGH-QUALITY, NO-COST FINANCIAL SERVICES. IN 2025, THE FINANCIAL CLINIC SERVED 440 RESIDENTS THROUGH 2,482 APPOINTMENTS, INCLUDING 1,170 DOCUMENTED COUNSELING SESSIONS, WITH 660 TOTAL VISITS REFLECTING STRONG ENGAGEMENT AND REPEAT PARTICIPATION. PROGRAM OUTCOMES DEMONSTRATE MEANINGFUL IMPACT, WITH 266 TOTAL OUTCOMES ACHIEVED, INCLUDING 91 CLIENTS REACHING AT LEAST ONE OUTCOME AND 62 EARNING-DEFINED ACHIEVEMENTS. CLIENTS COLLECTIVELY INCREASED SAVINGS BY $52,876 AND REDUCED NON-MORTGAGE DEBT BY $541,424. THE PROGRAM ALSO EXPANDED ITS COMMUNITY EDUCATION EFFORTS THROUGH A LEGACY PLANNING WORKSHOP PILOT AND A HIGH-VOLUME VITA TAX SEASON, FURTHER STRENGTHENING ITS ROLE AS A TRUSTED RESOURCE FOR FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT AND ECONOMIC RESILIENCE.

NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT: COLLABORATES WITH RESIDENTS AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS TO CREATE A VIBRANT COMMUNITY THAT REFLECTS THE CULTURE AND VALUES OF THE HARAMBEE AND RIVERWEST NEIGHBORHOODS. THIS INCLUDES ACTIVATING AND REVITALIZING PUBLIC SPACES WITH ART AND CULTURE, FACILITATING COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT AND SAFETY PROJECTS, AND CONNECTING RESIDENTS AND HOMEOWNERS TO RESOURCES. IN 2025, RESIDENTS ENGAGED IN THE BEERLINE SHUFFLE, MUSIC ON THE BEERLINE, THE RIVERWEST FARMERS MARKET, THE 53212MARKETPLACE SERIES, COMMUNITY MEETINGS, 7 NEIGHBORHOOD CLEAN UPS, AND OTHER EVENTS THAT UNITE THE HARAMBEE AND RIVERWEST COMMUNITIES. THE BEERLINE TRAIL NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT PROJECT CONTINUED TO ENSURE THE NEXT PHASES OF TRAIL DEVELOPMENT SERVE THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY, AND THAT OTHER DEVELOPMENT INSPIRED BY AND CENTERED AROUND THE TRAIL BENEFITS RESIDENTS EQUITABLY.