But Geoffrey Canada didn't become a statistic—and he didn't become a spectator, either. But Geoffrey Canada didn't become a statistic—and he didn't become a spectator, either.
Instead, his experiences inspired him to become a teacher. As he worked, he noticed many problems in the education system, many of which disproportionately affected children from low-income households. So Canada did his research, earning a master's degree from Harvard's Graduate School of Education. He made it his mission to keep education fair and engaging, encouraging children to stay in class and off the streets.
Geoffrey Canada gained prominence in 2010 for his participation in the acclaimed documentary “Waiting for Superman.” The film addressed the American education system’s most endemic problems, and how they affect disadvantaged youth in cities across the country.
“Children look at the world and they make certain predictions based on the evidence they're receiving from their peers, their parents and from their teachers,” Canada said in the film. “From their perspective the world is a heartless, cold-blooded place because they've been given the short end of the stick and they don't know why.”
For the past two decades, Canada has been working closely with children and families in Harlem. The neighborhood, home to the famous Apollo Theater, old-fashioned jazz venues and countless resident artists, is known for its rich culture and diversity. But it’s also a place where high school dropout rates are some of the highest in New York City. Canada has served as the president and CEO of the Harlem Children’s Zone since 1990. At its inception, this was a pilot program covering just one city block in Harlem, offering diverse support services to children and their families. Since then, the zone has grown to about 100 blocks; it now serves over 8000 children and 6000 adults.
The HCZ is a place where youth can go for education and inspiration, no matter what their home environments or socioeconomic background. The organization serves children from early childhood though high school, as well as their families. HCZ has offered preschool programs, anti-obesity campaigns, parenting classes and more. And it’s effective—program participants have proven to be much more likely to graduate from high school and go on to college.
It’s all about building communities, so Canada is passionate about building the right staff for the nonprofit. People who've had tough life experiences are often his top choices for employees. He discussed his hiring and management style with “The New York Times,” noting that “a person who’s never experienced any real serious setbacks and challenges is going to have a very hard time working for us. All of us are constantly pushing a limit that folks say we can’t get to … So I try to drill down on what motivates people. Why do they really want to come here? What kind of challenges have they faced in their life?”
For more information, please visit: www.hcz.org
