New Credit Education Outreach Program Seeks to Educate Consumers About Responsible Credit Card Usage

Written by Mike Killian
Posted On: October 26, 2005

Rural Opportunities, Inc. (ROI) is a private, not-for-profit regional community development and human service organization providing services to farm workers, low-income families and economically depressed communities throughout New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Ohio, Indiana and Puerto Rico. ROI also is an official partner of the nationally acclaimed Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy.

One of ROI's major accomplishments is an interactive learning website. It is funded by JP Morgan Chase Foundation and wonderfully named Seeds of Success. Originally written 4 years ago to assist migrant and farm workers, it is now available online to anyone who might want to access it in either English or Spanish. With content geared towards grades 6-8, it can be a powerful force for anyone with basic reading and computer skills.

The program name stems from the idea that like a farmer, you must first plant seeds in order to realize a harvest. This financial concept is beautifully illustrated in Part I, Mastering Money Skills. Then with skillful nurturing, a bountiful crop can blossom forth and be fruitful for others to benefit from. This concept is taught in Part II, Learning To Earn. I visited a few of the lessons and was particularly impressed with the wisdom of the content and the exercises in each lesson.

For example in Part I, Mastering Money Skills, I found lesson 6 of 10, "Controlling Credit", exceptionally responsible in its approach. The exercise, "Estimating the Cost of 5 Purchases", emphasized TOTAL cost and not MONTHLY payments. This emphasis is refreshing and should be paramount in today's debt-ridden society. Similarly, "Reading and Comparing Credit Offers" emphasizes looking past the glittering "low-introductory interest rate" which is so often ignored today. I also found other lessons such as "Smart Shopping" and "Banking Basics" wisely emphasize key issues consumers often overlook.

Similarly Part II, Learning To Earn, offers material of significant value. Starting with the first paragraph of the first lesson,

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"Did you know you engage in business every day of your life? Every time you do work, pay for a hamburger, or pay a bill - you are doing business."

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What a concept to begin with! The section offers valuable information regarding starting your own business, financial planning, financing, dealing with legal issues, and business promotion. The section also provides information regarding additional outside resources.

I was fortunate enough to speak to Tracey Gebhart, ROI Deputy for Multi-Area Initiatives, concerning Seeds For Success. She informed me that not only is this program very successful with its original audience, but that it has become a mainstream resource for inquiring adults, parents needing financial educational materials for their children, and teachers across the nation.

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We also offer a 16-18 hour, 3-day on site Train The Trainer course across the nation. The current cost is nominal and should not stop a group from requesting this resource.

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Tracey can be contacted through the ROI Contact Page.
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