Geoffrey Canada - Change Agent Extraordinaire
May 24, 2006
A recent segment on 60 Minutes captured the attention of the GCA.com writers. Rarely do we come across someone who so directly embodies the ideals, motivations, and personal attributes of a change agent. Geoffrey Canada, founder and CEO of the Harlem Children’s Zone, offers a tremendous story of inspiration, innovation, and resolve.
Canada established the Harlem Children’s Zone as, "an ambitious experiment to prove that poor kids from the inner city can learn just as well as affluent kids from the other side of America". Born in a poor neighborhood in South Bronx, he had an early resolve to improve the lives of others growing up in his situation. On 60 Minutes, Canada told correspondent Ed Bradley, "That’s something that’s driven me, I think, all my life." Despite his disadvantaged upbringing, Canada has accomplished incredible, some say impossible, things. After receiving a degree from Bowdoin College, and a master’s in education from Harvard, Canada is now nationally recognized as an advocate on children’s education, violence, and community redevelopment. In addition to his work with the Harlem Children’s center, he is a published author and in 2005, US News named Canada on it’s list of "America's Best Leaders".( http://www.hcz.org/documents/USNewscoverandarticle_000.pdf )
Passion and leadership alone do not make a change agent. Canada had a vision to enrich and improve a community, and what sets him aside is the horizontal approach he has taken in creating the Harlem Children’s Zone. This 60-block area in central Harlem offers a home to 10,000 children and their families, a space where each member of the community is supported in a myriad of ways. The Harlem Children’s Zone touches every facet of life, demonstrating the effectiveness of a Horizontal Approach to Change.
Education is only the beginning. 200 elementary school students living in the zone attend "The Promise Academy", a state-of-the art charter school he has established in a stunning $42 million dollar facility located there. Perks of the school range from a six to one student to teacher ratio, to brand new science labs and gym facilities, to a cafeteria which serves only healthy food (Canada’s effort to fight America’s growing obesity problem). Karate lessons are offered to teach discipline and self-defense, and after school programs help students with homework, offer extracurricular activities, and allow parents to maintain their daytime jobs.
Canada realizes that education is not enough. In order to make a widespread and lasting change, the entire family needs attention. A program called "Baby College" provides new parents with guidance on child development and growth. Parents are also taught skills that will benefit their own lives. Outside of the home, Canada is also helping to clean up the neighborhood. By revitalizing local business and cultural activity, everyone living in the zone is exposed to a new way of life.
This degree of accomplishment and innovation does not come without its challenges. Investors admit that they initially had reservations about funding such a daunting project. Still, Canada does not budge from a steadfast determination to do things his way. Like any true change agent, he is never content with the status-quo. In any endeavor, Canada routinely re-assesses the situation to determine areas for improvement. Teachers at the Promise Academy, for example, undergo constant evaluation, and are held directly accountable for the progress of their students. Canada recognizes that without strong teachers, you cannot have strong students. In fact, three teachers were fired last year for failure to live up to his expectations. By finding funding for a charter school, Canada is able to avoid the educational rule sets of the New York public school system. As he said, "We could not run a school under the current rules and regulations with the unions. It’s impossible."
Canada had a vision. And he attacked it with the passion that is embedded in the DNA of any change agent. During the 60 Minutes interview, Bradley asked, "You ever hear those people who say, you know, 'this is crazy, you can't do it,' and think that maybe you bit off too much?"
"As long as I am here, we’re gonna push this envelope as hard and as far as possible," was the reply.
To find out more about the Harlem Children’s Zone, visit their website at http://www.hcz.org/.
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