THE PROVIDENCE EFFECT is the story of an individual man, the inner city Chicago school he founded, and the student lives the school has changed and saved.  The school, Providence St. Mel, has a 30-year 100% college placement record; with an “old school” approach to learning --- “Do the work.” --- and a dedicated corps of teachers and administrators, Providence St. Mel can serve as a model for revamping all of American education.