Education in Action

Education in Action is a non-profit organization located in Providence, Rhode Island whose mission is to educate and inspire youth for real world success.  EIA executes this mission by means of hands-on, experiential programming in the field of financial literacy.  Founded in 2008, EIA has served over 25,000 students in its variety of programs.  The hallmark program of Education in Action is Exchange City, which served 2,300 students last school year alone.  Education in Action believes that education, particularly financial literacy education, is the only currency which can end the cycle of poverty.

Education in Action is a small operation with a full-time staff of two; Executive Director, Henry “Hank” Johnson, and Program Director, Nick Hurley.  EIA also employs several Program Facilitators who instructed the Exchange City curriculum at various schools throughout the New England.  Corporate governance is managed by a board of directors which includes individuals from Rhode Island Credit Union, Citizens Bank, Independent Insurance Agents of Rhode Island, Johnson & Wales University, Roberts, Carrol, Feldstein, and Peirce, Hasbro, National Grid, Verizon, and Samuel Slater Junior High School.

EIA’s flagship program, Exchange City is an immersive, hands-on curriculum which culminates in a field trip to a state-of-the-art mock city in which students are both the citizens and economy.  In the classroom, students are exposed to a variety of topics including economics, civics, and personal finance.  Students write resumes, apply for the jobs in Exchange City, and ultimately interview for those jobs.

Students are then placed in the various jobs and develop a business plan, which includes accounting for payroll, developing a budget, and creating various marketing campaigns.  Once the student’s business plans are completed they take a field trip to Exchange City and apply what they have learned.  EIA averages 40 field trips during the school year.

EIA also offers a variety of after school programs.  These programs are hosted in Cranston, Providence, West Warwick, Pawtucket, and Central Falls.  EIA’s after school programs are also based in financial literacy, however they are presented in different packages to entice a wider range of student participation.  For example, EIA offers Music Moguls After School Club in which students learn the customary financial literacy skills, but also create their own ‘record label’ in which students compose original music, write lyrics, record the song, and leave the program with a CD with their own music on it.  Additionally, EIA offers financial literacy programs that also contain elements of photography, healthy living, and cooking.

EIA is committed to the improvement of financial literacy skills for all individuals in Rhode Island and is starting at the schools.  EIA generally targets middle school students, as this age group is old enough to firmly grasp the concepts and carry the learning lessons with them as they grow.  This age group is also young enough that these individuals can hone these skills and develop into well-rounded, well-informed citizens, wise consumers, and active members of a 21st century democratic society.

Leave a comment