Learning from the Experts
A Company and a School Connect

Thanks to a unique partnership with Citizen Schools, one of the world’s leading financial services firms has gotten into the business of education. Fidelity Investments’ financial experts are becoming Citizen Teachers, volunteering one afternoon each week to turn students into financial advisers.

But that’s just the beginning of the story. This fall, Fidelity is sponsoring a single Citizen Schools campus—the Umana/Barnes Middle School in East Boston. For Fidelity, Citizen Schools isn’t just about a single volunteer experience. It’s a means to connect citizens and schools, to help businesses and their communities interact deeply, and to provide surprising, powerful educational benefits for young people.

To learn how you can support Citizen Schools campuses, click here.

Taking advantage of the national presence of the two organizations, Fidelity has developed a single apprenticeship in Boston into a curriculum called “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire.” Fidelity employees have led six different groups of middle school students in three states on a hands-on journey through stocks and bonds. At the end of each semester, apprentices advise real-life clients from their community on investment strategies to meet real-life savings goals.  

“Fidelity is truly one of our best apprenticeships,” remarks Citizen Schools’ Texas director Stacy Newcomer. “We had a spirited debate with the students about how to classify going to college—as a want, or as a need. Students practically jump out of their seats with enthusiasm when the Citizen Teachers ask questions.”

Now Fidelity is focusing on depth as well as breadth. Dennis Duquette, Vice President of Community Relations, conceived of becoming the sponsor of a Citizen Schools campus out of a desire to focus deeply on one group of young people. “That’s the model we like to employ with anything we do at Fidelity,” says Dennis. “We like to go very deep with financial investments, and we wanted to build an even deeper relationship with a school and a community through Citizen Schools.”

As campus sponsor, Fidelity’s connection to the school goes beyond monetary support and teaching in the afternoons. Employees have gotten to know school administrators, and the company has provided some special treats—backpacks for all the sixth graders, for instance, and VIP tickets to see the Red Sox at Fenway Park.

The Umana/Barnes will be the natural testing ground for Fidelity’s second curriculum. But this time they’re not teaching economics or the stock market—they’re teaching music. “Percussion Discussion” debuted in October, and in it Fidelity’s Director of Risk Advisory Services, Dennis Sullivan, a classical musician, is impressing upon a group of young people the power of music in the telling of stories. Apprentices have chosen a piece of folklore and are composing a percussion-based score to enhance it. No stock tickers are involved, but Sullivan and Fidelity agree that the arts build young minds too.

Mayron Ramirez, campus director at the Umana/Barnes, where Fidelity Investment has built deep connections through Citizen Schools.

This fall, Fidelity pledged to increase its support in 2007, sustaining its commitment to teaching financial literacy and music and to supporting students at the Umana/Barnes School. “Our employees always feel good when they can share something they’re passionate about with the community, and especially with kids,” says Dennis. “Citizen Schools provides such a great construct for that. It comes back to them tenfold—they form an attachment to the kids and they feel even better about Fidelity.”

It’s a win-win situation for the company and for the young people, observes Kristy Krugh, Volunteer Manager at Citizen Schools. “Fidelity’s agenda is really the same as ours,” she says. “The organization believes that other fields enrich the lives of their employees—and in turn can enrich the lives of children.”

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Kids need connections with caring adults and the opportunity to experience learning hands-on. Citizen Schools summons ordinary experts like you who have a passion for what they do—and gives them a chance to share it with young people and transform their futures. We hope you’ll join us in making a real impact on educational outcomes, and support our movement to transform education and bring hands-on, citizen-taught learning into the classroom. Kids from coast to coast will achieve more because of it. Donate online now.