Harlem Children's Zone

[6] In the summer of 2010, the U.S. Department of Education's Promise Neighborhoods program accepted applications from over 300 communities for $10 million in federal grants for developing HCZ implementation plans.

[7][8] The HCZ designs, funds, and operates a holistic system of education, social-services and community-building programs in Harlem to counter the negative influences of crime, drugs and poverty and help children complete college and go on to the job market.

[27][28] In 2008 President Obama, inspired by the Harlem Children's Zone immense progress toward breaking the generational cycle of poverty, proposed the creation of Promise Neighborhoods.

"The initiative seeks to help selected local communities dramatically improve outcomes and opportunities for children and families in defined neighborhoods.

The initiative's goal follows the HCZ's paradigm to improve every aspect of life in impoverished communities, its purpose states: "all children growing up in Promise Neighborhoods have access to effective schools and strong systems of family and community support that will prepare them to attain an excellent education and successfully transition from college to career."

HCZ, in collaboration with the national action institute PolicyLink, assists in providing ongoing guidance for the Obama administration in this initiative.

Planning grantees are given a year to produce a strategic paradigm which will address the issues specific to their community in pursuit of an implementation grant.

[36] Barack Obama announced his plan in a 2008 presidential campaign speech in Washington, D.C., to replicate the HCZ in 20 cities across the United States.

Federal government would provide half of the funding with the rest coming from philanthropy and businesses at a cost of a few billion per year.

[38] The Wall Street Journal featured the HCZ in an article about the financial troubles experienced by this and other charitable organizations in the wake of the recession.

[40] An article in the January/February 2009 issue of Mother Jones showcases Geoffrey Canada, the HCZ, and its recognition by the Obama 2008 presidential campaign and administration.

[41] The author of this article, Paul Tough, published a book in August 2008 about the HCZ titled, Whatever It Takes: Geoffrey Canada's Quest to Change Harlem and America.

[26][42] National Public Radio produced a 30-minute story on the HCZ on 28 July 2009 titled "Harlem Children's Zone Breaks Poverty Pattern.

[50] For elementary school years, however, some research has concluded that the HCZ has positive impacts on both math and English language arts.

[51] A March 2010 report in City Limits discusses the "stunning rate of teacher turnover the Promise Academies have posted.