EIC helps students acquire skills to pursue a senior college experience. Its summer program helps students adjust to the rigors of college life and guides them through the financial aid and registration process. Its Destiny Workshop Series helps students gain an understanding of personal purpose and how it relates to academic and professional goals. Scholars in the class of 2010 range in age from 18 to 62.
“My mission is to complete my degree so that I will be able to better care for my children,” Natasha Williams-Monte said.  “Upon leaving Eastern in the City, I will pursue a degree in education at Eastern University. The greatest lesson I have learned at EIC is how to juggle school along with the requirements of being a mother.”
EIC provides a strong network of support and the skills and experience to be successful in life. It has successfully done so for these sophomore students, most of whom are going on to pursue bachelor's degrees.
As one might expect from a program administered by a School for Social Change, students in this first cohort understand they’re paving the way for others. Zenique Gardner said, “My personal mission is to change the world—or at least a small part of it—through teaching inner-city youth who face the challenges of an unjust educational system that deprives them of the education they need to compete in a complex world.” This fall, Zenique will study in Kampala, Uganda through a program sponsored by Eastern and the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities.
EIC seeks to admit students who demonstrate a defined set of minimum competencies in reading, writing and thinking skills, who aspire to leadership in their communities, and who demonstrate promise and motivation through completion of the first summer semester. All EIC students are awarded a substantial scholarship.
“College wasn’t in my plans before I heard of EIC; my grades weren’t what one would call excellent," said Nelson Montanez, who began the program this year.  “When I received the phone call to set up an interview, I was so happy I nearly dropped the phone before we could discuss the time or place. The personal contact between the professors and the students is unmatched. I didn’t even receive this kind of attention in high school. I truly believe I belong here.”
Eastern University is a Christian university of the arts and sciences. Its School for Social Change administers a graduate program in Urban Studies promoting leadership in community arts, community development and youth development. Its certificate programs are designed for leaders who may not need a degree to pursue their personal or organizational goals. The school’s high school and undergraduate programs seek to eliminate barriers to higher education. For more information, visit www.eastern.edu/eic.