| Harlem Children's Zone | |
| Founded Date: | 2002 |
| Founder: | Geoffrey Canada |
| Location: | New York City |
| Key People: | Kwame Owusu-Kesse, current CEO; Geoffrey Canada, Founder and President; [1] |
| Area Served: | Central Harlem and nationally |
| Focus: | Combating intergenerational poverty |
| Method: | Donations |
| Homepage: | hcz.org |
Harlem Children's Zone (HCZ) is a world-renowned education and poverty-fighting organization based in New York City. Founded by Geoffrey Canada and led by its current CEO, Kwame Owusu-Kesse, HCZ pioneered the model of place-based, cradle-to-career services that empower young people and families from under-resourced backgrounds to achieve life-changing social and economic mobility.
HCZ built on its national recognition when the Obama administration launched the country's Promise Neighborhoods and Promise Zones initiatives, based on the HCZ model, in 2010 and 2014, respectively. In 2014, HCZ was featured in the award-winning documentary, Waiting for Superman. In 2019, under Owusu-Kesse's leadership, HCZ launched a National COVID-19 Relief and Recovery Effort to help 250,000 individuals in communities disproportionately impacted by the pandemic.
The history of Harlem Children’s Zone began in 1970. That year, Rheedlen Centers for Children and Families opened its doors as New York City’s first truancy prevention program.
In 1991, Rheedlen Centers opened its first beacon center at P.S. 194 Countee Cullen, a space offering high-quality programming and a safe destination for local children and families to come together.
In 1990, Geoffrey Canada became the CEO of Rheedlen Centers, overseeing a one-block pilot that provided comprehensive, critical support to children and families residing within that area. Seven years later, planning for the HCZ project began in earnest.
Building on the success of the early initiative, HCZ launched a 10-year strategic plan in 2002. From one block, HCZ committed to steadily and systematically expand its programs and services from 24 blocks to 60 blocks, and ultimately, to 97 blocks.
In 2004 and 2005, HCZ marked a major milestone with the opening of HCZ Promise Academy, its top-performing K-12 charter schools.
In 2008, Whatever It Takes, a book about HCZ by author and former New York Times editor Paul Tough, was published.
In 2010, HCZ officially completed its expansion to 97 blocks, fulfilling the goal laid out in its 10-year strategic plan.
More than 20 years after HCZ launched its strategic plan, the organization is fulfilling Geoffrey Canada’s vision in Central Harlem — and beyond.
Having once served several hundred families in one New York City block, HCZ now serves tens of thousands of children and adults — and counting — across more than 100 blocks. In 2012, HCZ graduated its first HCZ Promise Academy class.
In 2019, HCZ launched William Julius Wilson Institute to scale the organization’s impact across the country. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, HCZ partnered with six cities across the country and three national organizations to implement a National COVID Relief and Recovery Effort. Through an investment from the Audacious Project and together, with its partners, HCZ impacted the lives of over 250,000 people.
In 2021 and 2022, HCZ Promise Academy High Schools graduated classes with 100 percent college acceptance, according to HCZ.
HCZ’s mission is to break the cycle of intergenerational poverty with on-the-ground, all-around programming that builds up opportunities for children, families, and communities to thrive in school, work, and life.
HCZ consists of a cradle-to-career pathway of comprehensive, place-based programs. The programs, all offered at no cost, connect young people with the resources they need to succeed — from the time they are born to the time they launch their careers. HCZ also provides programming to families and community members.
Additionally, HCZ launched national initiatives to scale its impact, helping other place-based organizations across the country adopt aspects of HCZ’s model.
HCZ's comprehensive, cradle-to-career programs include:
HCZ Promise Academy is a top-performing K-12 charter school within HCZ’s cradle-to-career pathway of services that does whatever it takes to get its scholars to and through college. Since the opening of HCZ Promise Academy I in 2004 and HCZ Promise Academy II in 2005, HCZ Promise Academy has made an enormous impact on its scholars. The schools have enrolled nearly 100% of its scholars in college; closed the Black-white achievement gap; and helped graduates build successful careers and become conscientious citizens.
Education and Youth Programs
The following are notable media appearances by HCZ and its leadership: