Contact: Jim Hedemark
401.385.9411 | email

“Katrina’s Classroom” Comes to Ocean State

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta Officer to Provide “Financial Lessons from a Hurricane” to Rhode Island Teachers

December 14th, 2007 (Kingston, RI) - Bobbie McCrackin, Vice President and Public Affairs Officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta will deliver the keynote address at the Rhode Island Jump$tart Coalition’s “Financial $marts for Students” educator conference to be held at the Memorial Union Ballroom on the Kingston campus of the University of Rhode Island.

McCrackin, who coordinated the Atlanta Fed’s communications response to hurricane Katrina, will describe the many financial “lessons learned” from the disaster and how these lessons were transformed into a compelling DVD and curriculum package, “Katrina’s Classroom: Financial Lessons from a Hurricane,” for use in the classroom.

“Our goal in developing this resource,” says McCrackin, “Is to use personal narratives that students can relate to in order to emphasize the importance of financial preparedness and the benefits of having a bank account, budgeting, saving, and using credit wisely.  While there are many compelling messages that grew out of Hurricane Katrina, we felt that financial lessons applied not only to those weathering the storm but also to young people in general.”

“Katrina’s Classroom” can be accessed and downloaded by clicking here.  While the curriculum is intended for young adults and their families, its lessons are relevant for all Americans.

From the transcript of “Katrina’s Classroom”:

Jamie:

Well, when Katrina first struck, you know, I just, I thought it wouldn’t be as long as a couple of days, but when it turned out to be a little bit longer, I thought this was going to push a lot of plans back in my senior year and we had only been in school for, I think a week and a half, and so we just knew that, okay, this [is] not days we’re going to have to make up. We might not even get to go to school again.

Friend 1:

I believe that Katrina humbled most people, at least myself because it allows you to see how easily something can be taken away from you at that moment. You know, it just, it kind of gives you appreciation for what you have.

Jim Hedemark, Executive Director of the Rhode Island Jump$tart Coalition states, “We are grateful that the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta has converted the tough lessons learned from Katrina into such a powerful youth education tool.  Educators and parents often struggle to make financial lessons relevant to our youth.  These videos provide compelling teen-to-teen messaging.Talk about reality programming!”

“Financial $marts for Students” is a continuing education opportunity for Rhode Island middle and high school educators who currently teach or want to teach personal financial lessons in their classrooms.  The conference website can be found by clicking here.  The conference is free and educators are encouraged to register soon as seating is limited.

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