Harlem Kids Zone Organization

The Harlem Kids Zone       http://hcz.org/our-programs/#education
Which ideas/statements/resources, either on the website or in an e-newsletter, did you find controversial or made you think about an issue in new ways?
The organization reminds me of my duties as an advocate for children. I worked for head start for a few years and I catered to children that came from low income families. The organization distinctly reaches out to children in the Harlem area, these children/adults have suffered from poverty on so many levels. I feel that this organization is compliance with my efforts as a early childhood professional, I am here to help children have a chance at a great educational start. The organization serves over 13,000 youth meanwhile my rate of children a year are only 22 per class, but I am still making a difference one child at a time.


What information does the website or the e-newsletter contain that adds to your understanding of how economists, neuroscientists, or politicians support the early childhood field?

Create a pipeline of coordinated, best-practice programs to give our children and families seamless support from birth through college and maximize their outcomes. By taking the statistics and information given about the children in Harlem they formed a pipeline that is more beneficial. With the help of politicians, economists and neuroscientist the program is  known all over the world. The Promise Academy went to the White House and Michelle Obama spoke at the "Harlem Armory the National College Signing Day 2016".


Their pipeline diagram
Early Childhood>Elementary School>Middle School>High school>College




What other new insights about issues and trends in the early childhood field did you gain from exploring the website or e-newsletter?   One of the articles published on the website is called "What children need is you" it is a  social media campaign to get people thinking about all the things children need to fulfill their potential and invited friends and followers to chime in and let us know #WhatChildrenNeed.  The video was so full of life it started off showing small children and there were other educators to speak about what children need. Some of the advocates for children said a few things that symbolize that need--educators that have high expectation, inspiration, love, options, adults who care, great grounding in the arts.

The HCZ organization started a Practitioners Institute

They are committed to helping others benefit from their successes and the many lessons we have learned over the years.  In 2003, we created the Practitioners Institute to share information about our work, teach best practices, and provide pivotal guidance to groups from across the U.S. and around the world invested in replicating our model.
We strongly believe that our comprehensive, place-based approach to educating children and rebuilding an entire community will help transform neighborhoods struggling with issues like poverty, poor health, failing schools, and high crime rates.  The key is strategically applying our core principles, not recreating our exact programs.  Each community has unique needs to be addressed and resources on which to capitalize in building a pipeline to serve local children and families at scale

Family and Community Programs

Community Pride-Community Pride works closely with Harlem residents to help create a community where they feel empowered and united in their mission to help Harlem thrive.
Single Stop and Tax preparation-Single Stop facilitates access to government resources and provides free legal services and financial counseling—all in one stop—while our Tax Preparation Program helps thousands of families receive millions in refunds each year.
Preventive Placement Programs- HCZ operates four sites committed to stabilizing and strengthening our most vulnerable families and preventing foster-care placement for their children.