[CLOSED CAPTIONING HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY CARDI'S FURNITURE AND MATTRESSES] PETER: WELCOME TO ANOTHER EDITION OF IN ANOTHER OPINION, WHERE OUR DISCLOSURES ON -- ANOTHER ADDITION OF IN ANOTHER OPINION.

MY GUEST TODAY IS MADALYN CIAMPI.

MADALYN: THANK YOU, NICE TO BE HERE.

PETER: WHEN I WAS CONTACTED ABOUT POTENTIALLY DOING THIS SHOW, I WAS EXCITED BECAUSE I WAS NOT SURE WHAT THE PROVIDENCE PROMISE WAS.

I KNEW THAT THE GOVERNOR'S SOUNDED SOMETHING LIKE THAT, WHICH IS NOT -- BUT IT IS NOT CONNECTED TO THE GOVERNORS PROGRAM, CORRECT?

MADALYN: CORRECT.

PETER: FOR MY BENEFIT IN THE VIEWERS' BENEFIT, TELL US WHAT PROVIDENCE PROMISE IS ABOUT.

MADALYN: PROVIDENCE PROMISE IS A PARTNERSHIP THAT SUPPORTS THE POSTSECONDARY ASPIRATIONS OF PUBLIC SCHOOL KIDS AND THEIR FAMILIES.

WE ARE THE ONLY PROGRAM IN RHODE ISLAND THAT FOCUSES ON EARLY PLANNING FOR HIGHER EDUCATION THROUGH COLLEGE SAVINGS AND FAMILY ENGAGEMENT AND WE DO THIS BEGINNING AS EARLY AS BIRTH.

WE WORK WITH FAMILIES TO OPEN COLLEGE SAVINGS ACCOUNTS FOR THEIR CHILDREN, WE PROVIDE FINANCIAL LITERACY TRAINING, AND WE FACILITATE FAMILY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMMING.

PETER: WHERE ARE YOU LOCATED?

MADALYN: WE ARE BASED IN PROVIDENCE.

OUR OFFICE IS LOCATED DOWNTOWN, BUT WE SERVE FAMILIES AND KIDS IN EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE CITY.

PETER: DO YOU GO TO LIKE A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION AND HAVE A MEETING OR SOMETHING?

HOW DOES THAT WORK?

MADALYN: PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC, OUR OFFICES ARE LOCATED AT THE REGENCY PLAZA DOWNTOWN, SO WE HAD A GREAT BENEFIT OF BEING ON THE BUS LINE AND HAVING PARKING AT OUR OFFICE, SO THERE IS SOME COMMUNITY SPACE WHERE WHEN WE ARE ABLE TO GATHER IN GROUPS, WE ARE ABLE TO RENT OUT A SPATE FOR OUR PARENT COUNCIL, YOUTH COUNCIL, OR IF WE ARE HAVING A LARGER EVENT, THERE ARE SPACES AVAILABLE.

PETER: WHEN I FIRST CAME TO RHODE ISLAND IN 1995 AS THE DIRECTOR OF THE V.A., I LIVED AT THE REGENCY PLAZA FOR SIX MONTHS BEFORE I FOUND PERMANENT HOUSING.

SO I AM FAMILIAR WITH THE OPERATION AND THE ROOMS THAT ARE AVAILABLE.

IT IS A GOOD SPOT.

HOW DO PEOPLE GET INVOLVED WITH YOUR ORGANIZATION?

HOW DOES A PARENT KNOW THAT YOU ARE THERE AND WHAT YOU ARE THEREFORE?

HOW DO THEY CONNECT?

MADALYN: THE LAST YEAR HAS BEEN AN INTERESTING ONE FOR ALL OF US FOR A LOT OF REASONS, BUT FOR US, IT HAS BEEN A HUGE SHIFT IN EVERYTHING FOR OUTREACH AND ENROLLMENT.

PREVIOUSLY, WE COLLABORATE CLOSELY WITH THE PROVIDENCE PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND SOME CHARTER SCHOOLS AS WELL, SO PARENTS WERE ABLE TO CONNECT WITH US DURING FAMILY ENGAGEMENT EVENTS OR AT PTO MEETINGS OR OCCASIONALLY WE WERE ABLE TO HOST AN ASSEMBLY WITH THE KIDS AND TEACHERS TO TALK MORE ABOUT THAT, BUT OVER THE LAST YEAR, WE HAVE TRANSITIONED EVERYTHING TO VIRTUAL OUTREACH, AND WITH THAT AND EVERYTHING THAT SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS ARE DEALING WITH, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS LIKE THE PROVIDENCE PUBLIC LIBRARY AND PARENTS LEADING FOR EDUCATIONAL EQUITY AND A HANDFUL OF OTHERS WHO HAVE HELPED US GET THE WORD OUT TO THE FAMILIES THEY WORK WITH ABOUT OUR PROGRAM.

PETER: WHAT IS THE CAPACITY OF YOUR PROGRAM?

MADALYN: WE CURRENTLY SERVE 426 KIDS FROM 230 FAMILIES ACROSS THE CITY AND OUR GOAL IS TO INCREASE THAT NUMBER TWO 650 KIDS BY THE END OF JUNE -- TO 650 KIDS BY THE END OF JUNE.

OUR GOAL IS TO THEREAFTER INCREASE ENROLLMENT BY 400 KIDS PER YEAR.

PETER: WHAT IS YOUR MARKETING PLAN?

IS IT DIFFERENT THAN WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN DOING OR JUST WORD-OF-MOUTH?

MADALYN: STAFFING IS WHAT IS GOING TO HELP US REACH THOSE ENROLLMENT NUMBERS.

PREVIOUSLY, IT WAS MYSELF AND AN ENGAGEMENT DIRECTOR WITH PART-TIME HELP FOR OTHER ITEMS AND AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS BRING ON A FULL-TIME, BILINGUAL ENROLLMENT COORDINATOR AS WELL AS A PART-TIME BILINGUAL OUTREACH PERSON, SO NOW WE HAVE 1.5 EXTRA PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO BE FOCUSED EXPLICITLY ON DOING OUTREACH IN THE COMMUNITY AND TO SCHOOLS AND HELPING GET FAMILIES ENROLLED IN THE PROGRAM.

PETER: IT SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT PROGRAM AND ONE THAT IS OBVIOUSLY NECESSARY.

PEOPLE TODAY, WITH WAGES WHERE THEY ARE, TO TRY TO SAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO SEND CHILDREN ONTO SECONDARY COLLEGES.

IT IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT IS NEEDED.

ONE OF THE PROBLEMS I IMAGINE SOME OF YOUR CLIENTS ARE FACED WITH IS INCOME THAT MAY NOT NECESSARILY SUPPORT THE ABILITY TO GO TO COLLEGE.

HOW DOES THE PROGRAM GET YOU THERE?

MADALYN: PRETTY MUCH ALL OF THE FAMILIES THAT WE WORK WITH ARE CONSIDERED LOW INCOME AND WE ARE ABLE TO UTILIZE A COUPLE DIFFERENT STRATEGIES TO LEVERAGE WHATEVER AMOUNT OF FUNDS THE FAMILIES ARE ABLE TO SET ASIDE, AND ONE OF MY FAVORITE -- I THINK ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING THINGS IS WOULD RECALL OUR EARLY SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM.

THROUGH THE PROGRAM, FAMILIES AND KIDS OF ALL AGES HAVE A VARIETY OF OPPORTUNITIES TO EARN COLLEGE SAVINGS FROM PROVIDENCE PROMISE THAT WE PUT INTO THEIR ACCOUNTS.

STUDENTS CAN EARN FUNDS BY COMPLETING BOOK REPORTS OR SHOWING US AN IMPROVED REPORT CARD, PARTICIPATING IN ANOTHER PROGRAM, A SPORT.

FAMILIES AND STUDENTS CAN EARN SCHOLARSHIPS BY PARTICIPATING IN WORKSHOPS OR FAMILY ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES, JOINING PTO AND OTHER THINGS.

IN 2020, WE WERE ABLE TO DISTRIBUTE $33,000 IN EARLY SCHOLARSHIPS TO COLLEGE SAVINGS ACCOUNTS, WHICH HAS BEEN A GREAT WAY FOR US TO BE ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE ACCOUNTS CAN BE GROWING EACH MONTH, EVEN WITH THE PANDEMIC AND OTHER HARDSHIPS THAT FAMILIES HAVE BEEN FACING.

OUR AVERAGE FAMILY IS SAVING ABOUT $10 TO $12 PER MONTH IN THOSE ACCOUNTS.

LEVERAGING IT WITH THE EARLY SCHOLARSHIP DOLLARS BEING EARNED AND SOME FOLKS HAVE FAMILIES THAT WANT TO SEND $25 OR SOMETHING FOR A CHILD'S BIRTHDAY, SO THERE ARE CREATIVE SOLUTIONS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE FUNDS GOING IN.

PETER: WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE EARLY SCHOLARSHIPS, MONEY COMING IN, ARE YOU DOING MATCHING FUNDS SAVED BY THE FAMILIES?

MADALYN: WE CALL THEM BENCHMARK INCENTIVES.

IT IS A FLAT AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE SEND DEPENDING ON WHAT THE ACTIVITY IS TO THE CHILD'S ACCOUNT.

PARTICIPATING IN A YOUTH COUNCIL MEETING, THAT EARNS A $10 EARLY SCHOLARSHIP, SO THAT $10 WE SEND INTO THEIR ACCOUNT.

PETER: OK. DO YOU USE MANY BANKS, ONE BANK?

MADALYN: THE MAJORITY OF OUR FAMILIES USE THE STATE-SPONSORED COLLEGE-BOUND SAVER 529 PROGRAM, SO WE HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE TREASURER'S OFFICE TO INCREASE OUTREACH AND ENROLLMENT IN THE SAVER PROGRAM, SPECIFICALLY IN PROVIDENCE WHERE A LOT OF FAMILIES HAVE NOT REACHED -- OR NOT REACHED BY THE MARKETING -- ARE NOT REACHED BY THE MARKETING.

PETER: WHEN YOU SAY CONNECTED TO THE STATE'S PROGRAM, TELL ME HOW THAT WORKS.

MADALYN: WE DON'T NEED TO REINVENT THE WHEEL BECAUSE RHODE ISLAND ALREADY HAS A GREAT COLLEGE SAVINGS PROGRAM AVAILABLE, BUT WHAT THAT PROGRAM DOES NOT HAVE IS PEOPLE ON THE GROUND DOING OUTREACH AND HELPING FAMILIES GET ENROLLED AND THERE IS NOTHING THAT EXISTS LIKE OUR EARLY SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM WITHIN THE STATE-SPONSORED PLAN, SO THE STATE-SPONSORED PLAN IS JUST THE PLAN.

EVERYTHING WE PROVIDE FOR INCENTIVES AND FAMILY ENGAGEMENT AND SIGNIFICANTLY FOR US, PROVIDING RESOURCES FOR THE LANGUAGE BARRIER, MANY OTHER 529 COLLEGE SAVINGS PROGRAM ACROSS THE COUNTRY, IT IS NOT AVAILABLE IN LANGUAGES OTHER THAN ENGLISH.

THE MAJORITY OF OUR FAMILIES SPEAK SPANISH PRIMARILY, SO ONE OF OUR BIGGEST TESTS WITH OUR FAMILIES IS TO WALK TO THE PROCESS IN SPANISH, WHICH IS NOT AVAILABLE OTHERWISE.

PETER: YOU MENTIONED SPANISH.

ARE THERE OTHER LANGUAGES USED?

MADALYN: THERE IS DEFINITELY A LOT OF OTHER LANGUAGES THAT FAMILIES USE.

WE HAVE SOME FAMILIES THAT USE CREOLE, BUT PRIMARILY OUR FAMILIES ARE COMING FROM ENGLISH OR SPANISH SPEAKING BACKGROUNDS, BUT THE COLLEGE-BOUND SAVER PROGRAM IS JUST AVAILABLE IN ENGLISH AND THAT IS VERY COMMON ACROSS THE COUNTRY WITH OTHER PROGRAMS AS WELL.

PETER: YOU THINK THERE IS ANY CHANCE THAT THAT MIGHT CHANGE DOWN THE LINE AND INCLUDE MORE LANGUAGES?

MADALYN: WE ARE HOPEFUL.

IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS ON THE RADAR OF THE STATE'S PROGRAM AND OTHER PROGRAMS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, BECAUSE IT HAS HISTORICALLY BEEN THIS VEHICLE FOR PLANNING THAT HAS ONLY BEEN AVAILABLE TO CERTAIN COMMUNITIES, AND AS THE CITY, THE STATE, THE COUNTRY CONTINUES TO BECOME MORE DIVERSIFIED AND MORE LANGUAGES ARE BEING SPOKEN IN HOUSEHOLDS, I THINK THAT THIS WILL ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO ADAPT AND SERVE THE POPULATION THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE CAN HAVE ACCESS TO THESE IMPORTANT RESOURCES.

PETER: IS THERE A WEBSITE?

MADALYN: YEAH, COLLEGE-BOUND SAVER HAS THEIR OWN WEBSITE, SO WHAT PROVIDENCE PROMISE DOES, WHEN FAMILIES ENROLL, IF THEY DECIDE THEY WOULD LIKE TO OPEN AN ACCOUNT AS OPPOSED TO ANOTHER ACCOUNT, WE WILL GET ON THE WEBSITE WITH THEM AND WALK THEM THROUGH THE WHOLE PROCESS.

IT IS A COMPLETELY ONLINE APPLICATION, IT IS SIMPLE, BUT FOR OUR FAMILIES, THERE IS A LOT OF TRANSLATION AND OTHER EXPLAINING THESE COMPLEX TERMS WE MIGHT NOT HEAR EVERY DAY.

PETER: TELL ME A LITTLE MORE ABOUT THE PROGRAM.

HOW ARE YOU FUNDED?

MADALYN: WE HAVE FUNDING THROUGH A VARIETY OF SOURCES.

WE HAVE A LOT OF FUNDING FROM INDIVIDUAL DONORS AND WE ALSO RECEIVES -- RECEIVE SOME FUNDS FROM THE CITY OF PROVIDENCE AS WELL AS FOUNDATIONS AND BUSINESSES AND CORPORATIONS.

AS WE ARE CONTINUING TO GROW THE PROGRAM OVER THE NEXT YEAR, OUR GOAL IS TO EXPAND THE NUMBER OF FOUNDATIONS, SPECIFICALLY BEING A NEWER ORGANIZATION, IT HAS BEEN A SLOWER PROCESS FOR US TO BREAK INTO THE FUNDING CYCLE, SO THAT IS ONE OF OUR PRIMARY GOALS FOR THIS YEAR.

PETER: REALLY GOOD.

I TELL YOU, TAKING ON A MAJOR TASK, EDUCATION IS OBVIOUSLY THE KEY TO SURVIVAL AND GOOD QUALITY OF LIFE IN THIS COUNTRY.

STARTING WITH YOUNGSTERS AT THEIR EARLY CHILDHOOD AGE IS FANTASTIC AND GETTING PARENTS ON BOARD.

SAVING MONEY IS ALWAYS DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY PEOPLE WHO HAVE LOWER INCOMES.

THEY DO NOT FEEL AS THOUGH THEY CAN SAVE ENOUGH FAST ENOUGH TO GET THE JOB DONE AND I UNDERSTAND THAT.

LET'S SAY A YOUNGSTER GOES THROUGH THE PROGRAM, PARENTS HAVE BEEN SAVING, THEY GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL, THEY WANT TO GO TO URI -- LET'S SAY THEY WERE SAVING $10 A MONTH OR SOMETHING, WHATEVER YOUR MODEL MIGHT SUGGEST.

HOW MUCH MONEY WOULD THEY SAVE IN A PERIOD THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL?

MADALYN: IT DEFINITELY ARRANGES A LOT FOR OUR KIDS BECAUSE OUR YOUNGEST STUDENTS ARE FOUR MONTHS OLD AND OUR OLDEST ARE HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS AND OUR ENROLLMENT IS OPEN FROM BIRTH TO THE NEXT GRADE, ALSO SOME STUDENTS HAVE HAD LESS TIME TO SAVE IF THEY ENROLLED IN THE EIGHTH OR NINTH GRADE VERSUS THE STUDENTS THAT WERE ENROLLED BEFORE THEIR FIRST BIRTHDAY.

ON AVERAGE, WE COULD EXPECT FAMILIES TO HAVE A FEW THOUSAND DOLLARS IN THEIR ACCOUNTS, WHICH IS NOT GOING TO OFFSET THE COST OF $60,000 A YEAR AT MANY OF THE COLLEGES OR UNIVERSITIES, BUT THERE ARE A COUPLE OF OTHER IMPORTANT THINGS THAT WE KNOW ARE GOING TO HELP PARENTS AND STUDENTS ON THAT JOURNEY.

THE FIRST IS THERE IS A GROWING BASE OF RESEARCH ON COLLEGE SAVINGS ACCOUNTS, THE IMPACT THEY HAVE ON LOW AND MODERATE INCOME KIDS, AND ONE OF THE MOST MOVING STATISTICS THAT WE FOUND IS LOW INCOME KIDS WITH EVEN $500 OR LESS IN THEIR COLLEGE SAVINGS ACCOUNTS ARE THREE TIMES MORE LIKELY TO GO TO COLLEGE AND FOUR TIMES MORE LIKELY TO GRADUATE THAN THEIR COUNTERPARTS WITHOUT ANY COLLEGE SAVINGS.

WHAT THAT SHOWS US IS IT IS LESS ABOUT THE MONEY THEN IT IS ABOUT THE MINDSET -- THEY ON IT IS ABOUT THE MINDSET AND THE PLANNING AND UNDERSTANDING -- THAN IT IS ABOUT THE MINDSET AND THE PLANNING AND UNDERSTANDING AND HAVING A COMMUNITY THAT SUPPORTS YOU, AND SECONDARILY, WE HAVE CREATED WHAT WE CALL OUR COLLEGE ACCESS PROGRAM AND IT IS A GREAT RESOURCE FOR OUR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO TRY TO KEEP THEM ON TRACK FOR EVERYTHING, NINTH THROUGH 12 GRADE, AND ONE OF THE BIGGEST COMPONENTS IS AN EXTENSIVE GUIDE OF OTHER SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES.

WE ARE WORKING WITH OUR KIDS INDIVIDUALLY AS WELL TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE APPLYING FOR WHATEVER FINANCIAL AID THAT MIGHT BE AVAILABLE TO THEM, WHETHER THAT IS GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS OR THEIR 529 ACCOUNT OR ANYTHING ELSE.

OUR GOAL IS TO MINIMIZE THE FINANCIAL BURDEN TO WHATEVER EXTENT POSSIBLE.

PETER: CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG.

WHAT A CITIZEN HAS TO DO IS GO INTO THE STATE'S 529 PROGRAM AND REGISTER FIRST, THEN COME TO YOU, OR VICE VERSA?

MADALYN: SINCE WE DO NOT HAVE -- WE ARE NOT A BUSINESS PARTNER, PER SE, OF THE STATE'S PROGRAM, SO FAMILIES COME TO US AND PART OF OUR PROCESS IS TO OPEN A 529 ACCOUNT.

WE SAY, WE HAVE THE STATE OPTION IN RHODE ISLAND OR OTHER OPTIONS , WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO?

THE MAJORITY SAY, WE ARE RHODE ISLAND OR, WE WOULD LIKE TO DO THE STATE PLAN.

-- RHODE ISLANDERS, WE WOULD LIKE TO DO THE STATE PLAN.

WE WALK THEM THROUGH THE ONLINE APPLICATION.

THE APPLICATION IS IN ENGLISH.

WE HELP FAMILIES TO THE PROCESS OF GETTING THE ACCOUNT OPENED, UNLESS THAT IS SOMETHING THEY PREFER TO DO ON THEIR OWN.

PETER: GOT YOU.

RIGHT NOW, YOU ARE ONLINE, IT IS VIRTUAL, YOU ARE NOT USING OFFICE HOURS, SO A PERSON WOULD HAVE TO GO TO YOUR WEBSITE AND REACH OUT TO YOU THAT WAY, CORRECT?

MADALYN: YUP.

THERE IS CONTACT INFORMATION ON OUR WEBSITE AS WELL AS AN OPTION TO SUBMIT AN INTEREST FORM, AT WHICH POINT A STAFF MEMBER WILL REACH OUT.

PETER: HOW MANY STAFF MEMBERS DO YOU HAVE?

MADALYN: WE HAVE THREE FULL-TIME FOLKS, MYSELF, OUR BILINGUAL FAMILY ENGAGEMENT DIRECTOR, AND BILINGUAL ENROLLMENT WHERE NADIR, AND THREE PART-TIME FOLKS TO HELP US WITH DEVELOPMENT, FAMILY ENGAGEMENT AND ENROLLMENT , AND THIS PAST YEAR, WE HAVE HAD A COUPLE OF INTERNS FROM LOCAL COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES AS WELL.

PETER: SO YOU ARE LEVERAGING YOUR ACTIVITY.

THAT IS GOOD.

DO YOU THINK THAT SOMEDAY THIS PROGRAM MIGHT GET INVOLVED OR ENGULFED INTO EACH COLLEGE?

MADALYN: I DO, YEAH.

I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF GOOD MODELS FOR THAT IN OTHER PLACES IN THE COUNTRY, SPECIFICALLY YOU MENTIONED THE RHODE ISLAND PROMISE, THE GOVERNOR'S PLAN, THERE ARE A LOT OF MODELS WHERE COLLEGE SAVINGS PROGRAMS HAVE A STRUCTURED RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE PROGRAMS, LIKE RHODE ISLAND PROMISE, BECAUSE FOR OUR STUDENTS, IF THEY WANT TO GO TO SEE CRI AND UTILIZE -- THE CCRI AND UTILIZE THE RHODE ISLAND PROMISE, THEY COULD SAVE IT IF THEY KNOW THEY WANT TO TRANSFER TO GET A FOUR YEAR DEGREE.

THERE ARE SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE DIFFERENT WAYS TO WORK TOGETHER, BUT RIGHT NOW, SINCE WE DO NOT HAVE KIDS IN COLLEGE YET, OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE LOCAL COLLEGES AND UNIVERITIES HAVE BEEN GREAT FOR HELPING US WITH CAPACITY FOR INTERNS AND THEY HAVE BECOME INVOLVED IN OUR FAMILY AND YOUTH ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMMING, SPEAKING ON PANELS, MEETING WITH STUDENTS AND PARENTS TO TALK ABOUT THEIR PERSONAL JOURNEYS TO HIGHER EDUCATION OR WHAT THINGS THEY CAN BE THINKING ABOUT NOW, SO THAT IS SOMETHING.

WE ARE STARTING OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH FAMILY ENGAGEMENT AND HOPEFULLY IT WILL BE SOMETHING WE CAN INTEGRATE WITH THE ENROLLMENT PROCESS AS WELL.

PETER: THAT IS FANTASTIC.

WE ARE GETTING CLOSE TO THE 30 MINUTES.

LET ME ASK YOU A QUESTION.

DO YOU HAVE GENERAL COMMENTS OR INFORMATION YOU WOULD LIKE TO GIVE TO THE VIEWERS THAT WE HAVE NOT TALKED ABOUT?

MADALYN: I THINK WE TALKED ABOUT A LOT OF THE KEY COMPONENTS OF THE PROGRAM, BUT I CAN REITERATE, PROVIDENCE PROMISE IS UNIQUE IN WHAT IT DOES AND IT IS SERVING A NEED IN THE COMMUNITY THAT HAS GONE UNMET IN THE PAST.

BRIDGING BAGGAGE BARRIERS AND CULTURAL BARRIERS AND EDUCATION VARIOUS, WE ARE ABLE TO WORK WITH FAMILIES AND STUDENTS TOGETHER, WE CALL IT OUR TUBING GENERATION APPROACH, WHICH WE THINK IS POWERFUL, HAVING OUR FAMILIES AND KIDS TOGETHER -- WE CALL IT OUR TWO GENERATION APPROACH, WHICH WE THINK IS POWERFUL, HAVING OUR FAMILIES AND KIDS TOGETHER.

IT IS MAKING PLANNING FOR COLLEGE OR HIGHER EDUCATION A FAMILY AFFAIR, ALL HANDS ON DECK.

THAT IS KEY FOR THE PEACE OF OUR MISSION ABOUT BUILDING ASPIRATIONS AND EXPECTATIONS.

PETER: ARE YOU A NATIVE RHODE ISLANDER?

MADALYN: I AM NOT, I MOVED TO PROVIDENCE NINE YEARS AGO.

WE JUST BOUGHT A HOUSE, SO I'M NOT PLANNING ON GOING ANYWHERE.

PETER: WHERE ARE YOU FROM ORIGINALLY?

MADALYN: I AM FROM SMALL TOWN IN MASSACHUSETTS OF ABOUT 7000 PEOPLE CALLED WESTMINSTER.

OUR CLAIM TO FEIGN IS WHAT YOU SAID MOUNTAIN.

I MOVED TO PROVIDENCE FOR SCHOOL AND STAYED FOR GRAD SCHOOL AND PETER: HOW DID YOU FIND PROVIDENCE PROMISE?

MADALYN: WHEN I WAS IN GRADUATE SCHOOL, I WAS INTERNING FOR THE COLLEGE PROMISE CAMPAIGN BASED OUT OF WASHINGTON, D.C., SO I HAD BEEN EYEBALLS DEEP IN A LOT OF WORK SIMILAR TO WHAT PROVIDENCE PROMISE WAS DOING, AND IT HAPPENED TO FALL INTO MY LAP, I THINK THERE WHEN EMAIL THAT WAS FORWARDED TO ME ABOUT PROVIDENCE PROMISE, THIS NEW PROGRAM THEY WERE TRYING TO GET OFF THE GROUND.

SO I MADE A SLIGHTLY CRAZY DECISION AND VOLUNTEERED TO TAKE ON A SECOND INTERNSHIP HERE WITH PROVIDENCE PROMISE, SO MY FECUND HALF OF GRAD SCHOOL, I WORKED AS AN INTERN FOR THE PROGRAM AS WE FINISHED UP DEVELOPING AND COMPLETING A SOFT LAUNCH INTO THE COMMUNITY.

PETER: VERY GOOD.

PROVIDENCE PROMISE SHOULD BE HAPPY THEY GOT YOU BECAUSE YOU ARE OBVIOUSLY VERY DEDICATED AND YOU HAVE BEEN INVOLVED FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS AT DIFFERENT LEVELS, FEDERAL, STATE, AND CITY.

THAT IS FANTASTIC.

YOU BRING THE PREREQUISITES, I GUESS, RIGHT?

HOW DID YOU YOURSELF GET INTO THIS WORK OF EDUCATION?

WAS THAT YOUR MAJOR IN SCHOOL?

MADALYN: IN MY UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES, I WAS A GLOBAL STUDIES MAJOR WITH A SPANISH MINOR.

COLLEGE IS WHERE I DECIDED THAT I WANTED TO STAY IN EDUCATION AND NONPROFIT WORK.

I AM A FIRST GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENT AND I WENT TO COLLEGE WITH $26 IN MY CHECKING ACCOUNT, SO I DEFINITELY FELT THE STRUGGLE THAT A LOT OF STUDENTS FEEL, NOT FEELING PREPARED OR THE CULTURE SHOCK OF ARRIVING ON A CAMPUS, SO I ENDED UP GETTING INVOLVED WITH SOME LOCAL NONPROFITS HERE WHEN I WAS A FRESHMAN AND JUST CONTINUED WITH A LOT OF COMMUNITY-BASED WORK, AND MY WORK WITH THE PROVIDENCE AFTERSCHOOL ALLIANCE IS WHAT INSPIRED ME TO ASK INSPIRED ME TO CONTINUE ON THIS PATH WITH EDUCATIONS -- IS WHAT INSPIRED ME TO CONTINUE ON THIS PATH WITH EDUCATION.

I HAVE SOME PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE, AND NOW I HAVE ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE AS WELL, HAVING THOSE RESOURCES WITH MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE HAS INSPIRED ME TO BE IN THIS SPACE.

PETER: I CAN RELATE TO YOUR SITUATION WHEN YOU SAID YOU CAME ON CAMPUS WITH $27.

MY DAD PASSED AWAY THE SUMMER THAT I GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL, SO I RECEIVED HIS SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFIT, WHICH FOR ME AT THE TIME WAS $20 A MONTH.

[LAUGHTER] SOMEHOW, I MANAGED TO GET THROUGH WITH THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY.

YOU FIGURE IT OUT, I GUESS.

MADALYN: YEAH.

PETER: DID YOU HAVE FAMILY YOURSELF?

MADALYN: JUST MY CAT AND MY PARTNER, FOR NOW.

WE HAVE OUR HOME AND WE HAVE BEEN IN OUR NEW HOUSE FOR ABOUT THREE MONTHS AND WE ARE EXCITED TO PUT DOWN SOME FIRM ROOTS HERE IN THE CITY.

PETER: I AM SURE YOU HAVE A 529 ACCOUNT -- YOU WILL HAVE A FIVE TO NINE ACCOUNT FOR YOUR OFFSPRING, SHOULD YOU HAVE SUNDAY RED MADALYN: MY -- SHOULD YOU HAVE SOME.

I COULD OPEN UP -- OPEN AN ACCOUNT FOR SOMEBODY ELSE?

MADALYN: SINCE I DO NOT HAVE A CHILD YET, YOU NEED A SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER TO OPEN THE ACCOUNT, WHAT MY BROTHER DID AS HE LISTED HIMSELF AS THE BENEFICIARY FOR NOW UNTIL I HAVE A CHILD WITH A SOCIAL SECURITY.

IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE A PARENT OR GUARDIAN, GRANDPARENTS, FRIENDS, GODPARENTS, ANYONE CAN OPEN A COLLEGE SAVINGS ACCOUNT FOR A CHILD.

ALL YOU NEED IS THERE INFORMATION.

PETER: I DID NOT KNOW THAT.

I'M GLAD I ASKED BECAUSE I HAVE JUST A PERSON I AM ABOUT FOR THAT.

SO WHAT IS NEXT FOR PROVIDENCE PROMISE?

IS THERE AN EXPANSION OF THE PROGRAM?

MADALYN: WE ARE EXCITED FOR OUR GROWTH THIS YEAR.

I THINK LAST YEAR, DESPITE ALL THE CHALLENGES THAT WE FACED, THE PROGRAM GREW SIGNIFICANTLY ANYWAYS, SO THIS YEAR, NOW THAT WE HAVE ADDITIONAL STAFF, FUNDRAISING EFFORTS HAVE BEEN GOING WELL THIS YEAR.

WE ARE WELL-EQUIPPED TO GET OUT THERE AND ENROLL AS MANY NEW FAMILIES AS WE CAN IN THE PROGRAM AND CONTINUE WITH THE FAMILY ENGAGEMENT EXPANSION.

WE WENT FROM ONE FAMILY ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITY PER MONTH PRIOR TO COVID AND NOW WE ARE MEETING WITH FAMILIES AND STUDENTS AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK, SOMETIMES MORE.

IT IS EXCITING TO SEE HOW THINGS CONTINUE TO DEVELOP AND HOW THEY ARE DEVELOPING BASED ON FAMILY AND STUDENT INPUT BECAUSE WE DO BELIEVE THAT OUR PARENT COUNCIL AND YOUTH COUNCIL ARE THE DRIVERS OF WHAT WE ARE DOING FOR OUR PROGRAM BECAUSE WE ARE NOT HERE TO PROVIDE THINGS TO THEM.

WE WANT TO WORK TOGETHER WITH OUR FAMILIES TO HAVE A MEANINGFUL AND RESPONSIVE APPROACH TO WHAT WE ARE DOING.

PETER: IT MAKES SENSE.

I WILL TELL YOU, I APPLAUD YOU, YOU HAVE SOME SORT OF BOARD THAT PROVIDES DIRECTION, I APPLIED ALL OF YOU FOR WHAT YOU ARE DOING.

-- APPLAUD ALL OF YOU FOR WHAT YOU ARE DOING.

I HOPE TO SEE MORE OUTREACH AND HEAR MORE ABOUT THE PROVIDENCE PROMISE.

I FOR SURE WILL PASS IT ON, BUT I THINK MORE PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT IT FOR THEM TO EVEN BEGIN TO THINK ABOUT JOINING THE PROGRAM.

WE ARE GETTING CLOSE TO THE END OF THE TIME.

I TEND TO RUN OVER ALL THE TIME.

I AM TRYING NOT TO.

I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BEING ON THE SHOW.

WE HAVE RUN OVER TIME.

I WANT TO THINK YOU AGAIN FOR BEING ON THE SHOW, AND YOU, THE VIEWERS, FOR TUNING IN.

A SPECIAL THANKS TO PBS FOR MAKING THIS PROGRAM POSSIBLE.

I AM YOUR HOST, PETER WELLS, AND NEVER LIKE TO HEAR YOUR OPINION AS TO -- AND I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR YOUR OPINION AS TO SOME OF THE INFORMATION YOU HAVE HEARD TODAY.

HAVE A GOOD DAY AND BE SAFE.

THANKS, MADALYN, FOR BEING ON THE SHOW.

MADALYN: THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

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