“e” inc. Receives “Promising Practices” Award from the Academy for Educational Development
International award cites “e” inc. innovative after school programming as a “breakthrough idea in education” Boston, MA (July 29, 2009) – “e” inc., environmental science and action program has received a “Promising Practices” award from the Academy for Educational Development (AED) www.aed.org, an international organization dedicated to promoting teaching and learning around the world.
Each year the AED examines youth education programs from all corners of the globe and gives special recognition to the ten best programs that offer the most effective, cutting-edge teaching strategies with the greatest potential for making a positive change in the lives of young people.
The “Promising Practice” award is part of AED?s Practices in After School Initiative, which recognizes “breakthrough ideas.” An idea is considered ?breakthrough? when it is a proven education innovation, method, or approach that results in measurable, replicable, scaleable, and sustainable improvements in learning.
“e” inc. environmental education and action program is currently being taught in day schools, summer camps, urban wilds, and afterschool programs located in the Boston neighborhoods of Dorchester, Roxbury, Mattapan, Brighton, and the South End. Through “e” inc.’s science and individual and team action curricula, the students have implemented projects in their schools and neighborhoods to address such issues as global warming, rainforest protection and ocean bio-diversity.
Specific student-initiated projects during the school year included paper recycling/reuse programs in schools; tree plantings; storm drain monitoring to stop impacts of litter on the ocean; electrical energy conservation teams, and letter writing campaigns to address key sustainability issues in the city.
Dr. Ricky Stern, Executive Director of “e” inc., said, “We are excited to be recognized by such an outstanding organization as AED. The award is a confirmation that our mission and method to engage and train young people to be environmental protectors by teaching them the science behind some critical environmental issues and their own power to bring about needed change, is on track.”
About AED: The goal of the Afterschool.org and Promising Practices in After School Initiative is to increase the quality and quantity of after-school programs by identifying and promoting organizational and interpersonal practices that support social, emotional, cognitive, physical and cultural outcomes for school-age children and youth.
AED (www.aed.org) is an International nonprofit organization based in Washington D.C. that combines great ideas with real-world perspective to change lives by improving health, education, social and economic development. Focusing on the underserved, AED works with domestic and international partners to implement more than 300 programs serving people in all 50 U.S. states and more than 150 countries.
