  Exchange City® at Providence Campus Opens for Business PROVIDENCE, R.I. – May 7, 2007 – Cartographers can add a new city to the map of Rhode Island: Exchange City® now located on the campus of Johnson & Wales University. State officials, the First Lady, scores of excited middle school students from the Urban Collaborative Accelerated Program (UCAP) in Providence, and university officials celebrated the grand opening of Exchange City with a ribbon-cutting ceremony held on Thursday, May 3, 2007. A real "working city," Exchange City includes a bank, city hall, radio station, retail stores, a newspaper office and more. An innovative, interactive educational and entrepreneurial project for middle and high school students, the City is where students come to put their classroom learning to the test. They take on roles as politicians, bankers, newspaper owners and other business leaders. All in a day's a work; these "city officials" must make payroll, pay rent, taxes and utilities, and take out and repay business loans. about Exchange City Exchange City is recognized nationally for its innovative economics, government and civics programs that support a new vision of teaching and learning about American enterprise, entrepreneurism and government. Exchange City is both a hands-on learning lab site and a curriculum that is used in the classroom and in the home. It combines a seven-week classroom curriculum with a state-of-the art interactive government and free enterprise laboratory. The Exchange City experience helps students learn and apply rigorous academic standards in math, civics, social studies, language arts and technology in real-life roles as citizens of their very own mini-town. "Inherent to the mission of Exchange City is creating an opportunity for young people to acquire the skills they will need for successful careers," Dr. Schneider stated. "Similarly, at Johnson & Wales University, we do that at the college level. We recognize the symbiotic relationship that our campus will share with Rhode Island's first Exchange City and are proud to be their host site." Celebrating the opening, and completing their seven-week classroom curriculum, the Urban Collaborative Accelerated Program (UCAP) is the first school to participate in the newly-constructed Exchange City. UCAP, located in Providence, is an independent public school, serving at-risk middle school students from Providence, Central Falls and Cranston. housed in history "Exchange City will have a profound and life-long impact on Rhode Island students who participate. They will have a real opportunity to develop real skills for real careers and Rhode Island's future workforce," Ken Fish, executive director, Exchange City, Providence says. "Our students will gain hands-on experience in problem-solving, decision-making, and team-work." He added, "Our heartfelt appreciation to Johnson & Wales University who has taken a visionary and leadership position in making sure that this opportunity is available to students throughout New England." In addition to the students from UCAP, more students from Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut will be visiting Exchange City during May and June. Nearly 6,000 students are expected to attend in 2007, with more than 10,000 anticipated in 2008. sponsors Johnson & Wales University, founded in 1914, is a nonprofit, private institution. A recognized leader in career education, we offer accredited degrees in business, hospitality, culinary arts, technology and education. With a diverse student body of more than 16,000 graduate and undergraduate students, representing all 50 states and 89 countries, JWU prepares students for personal and professional success by integrating rigorous academics and professional skills, community leadership opportunities and our unique career education model. The university is committed to urban revitalization and thoughtful historic renovation. Through active civic participation and by offering unique learning opportunities, JWU improves the quality of life in its campus communities in Providence, R.I., North Miami, Fla., Denver, Colo., and Charlotte, N.C. For more information visit www.jwu.edu.
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