Ele:Vating Urban Youth for Economic Health

Abstract

Article describes several schools which have implemented various programs including Economis, a token economy incentive system created as part of Ele:Vate, a major economic literacy initiative for lower-income youth designed and funded by a private Midwest foundation. The Ele:Vate project ("Economic Literacy Education: Vital Assets for Transformation and Empowerment") was motivated by the foundation's commitments to "economic justice and an engaged and educated society," says the trustee most active in designing the initiative. Discussion is given to how the program works as well as the benefit it provides to students, teachers, and parents.