LITTLE ROCK, ARK – Southern Bancorp Community Partners (SBCP) recently published Deferred Dreams: How Unmanageable and Abusive Debt Hinder Savings and Economic Security in Mississippi, a policy brief that explores how historic levels of debt have proved an impediment for Mississippians to achieve their dreams.
The brief, written by Janie Ginocchio, MPA, SBCP’s Director of Public Policy and Advocacy, goes into detail about the different types of debt and challenges that are inhibiting wealth building in Mississippi. Auto, credit card and student loans play a substantial role along with racial disparities, increased education costs and the increased cost of homes. The brief also offers policy recommendations for combating debt challenges, such as reinvesting in higher education, increasing federal protections for student borrowers, and modernizing debt collection exemptions.
SBCP will host a webinar on the topic in the form of their Policy Points webinar series titled: “The Impact of Debt on Economic Security in Mississippi” on Wednesday, December 16. Dr. Karama Neal, President of Southern Bancorp Community Partners, will moderate a discussion with four experts in their respective fields about the different ways that debt and debt collection practices are holding Arkansans back.
Panelists include State Sen. Robert Jackson, Paheadra Robinson, Esq., of the Bratton Consulting Group, Dr. Bill Sutton, Affiliate Coordinator of the Clarksdale Area Fuller Center for Housing, and Charlestien Harris, Credit Counselor with SBCP. The webinar is from 9:30 AM to 11:00 AM CST. This event is free and open to the public. Register today at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_zG0Kb6uWTuaAq4WdLlIX8A.
Deferred Dreams: How Unmanageable and Abusive Debt Hinder Savings and Economic Security in Mississippi can be found by visiting https://southernpartners.org/mssavingscoalition/.