Harlem Children's Zone

Congratulations to our CEO Kwame Owusu-Kesse for being featured in the LinkedIn News #Catalyst series — spotlighting leaders who are driving meaningful change! In this feature, Mr. Owusu-Kesse shared his inspiring journey to becoming CEO of Harlem Children’s Zone and reflected on what it means to lead with purpose — highlighting the transformative impact of HCZ in breaking the cycle of intergenerational poverty in Central Harlem and in communities like ours across the country. We’re proud of your leadership and grateful to the Catalyst team for showcasing your commitment to our scholars, families, and communities.

Meet Gus, Facilitation and Training Specialist at the HCZ Armory. Gus joined Harlem Children’s Zone in 2010, and he recently celebrated 15 years of service to our scholars, families, and community members. From providing recreational therapy to comprehensive safety training, Gus is dedicated to equipping our community with the skills they need to thrive. His commitment to building confidence and connection makes him a true pillar of the Zone. Thanks, Gus, for your leadership and the legacy you continue to build here at HCZ! Ready to make a difference? Explore careers with HCZ here: https://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.phcz.social/careers

We were honored to celebrate our distinguished scholarship recipients at our annual luncheon! These outstanding HCZ scholars were awarded scholarships in recognition of their academic excellence, leadership, and commitment to their futures. A big shoutout to our Wealth Builds and College Success Office teams for co-hosting the event, and congratulations to all our HCZ scholars – you make us so proud!

That’s a wrap on the 4th annual Summer Institute: Transforming Place Through Neighborhood Leadership, hosted by our William Julius Wilson Institute and The EdRedesign Lab at Harvard Graduate School of Education! Over the past three days, our national community of place-based, cradle-to-career leaders came together to build a movement — sharing best practices, forging cross-sector connections, and creating a legacy of leadership to move the field forward for years to come. Together, we’re impacting communities and putting children and families across the country on the path to social and economic mobility. A big thank you to EdRedesign for your partnership and hosting us! #PowerofPlace

“Over the last four years, Summer Institute has become a hub for organizations growing up. But the question now is: will the field grow up? It’s not enough to have just one or two organizations — we need hundreds of examples that can demonstrate the power of us.” On Day 3 of Summer Institute, Christian Rhodes, Deputy Executive Director of William Julius Wilson Institute at Harlem Children's Zone, issued a call to action — challenging leaders to move beyond decks and frameworks and stay focused on what matters: fulfilling our promise to our children to help them succeed. “If you’re serious in this work, we’ll be serious with you.” #PowerofPlace

“If a great change is going to happen in outcomes for our children, it’s going to start in neighborhoods and cities — and ladder its way up to the national level.” To close out Day 2 of Summer Institute, Monroe Nichols — the first African American mayor of Tulsa, Oklahoma — joined #GeoffreyCanada, HCZ Founder and President and Founder of William Julius Wilson Institute, for a wide-ranging and inspirational discussion on leadership, legacy, and local change in the field of place-based cradle-to-career. Mayor Nichols is a member of our Mayors’ Neighborhood Academy, a partnership with the National League of Cities that supports and cultivates a cohort of 15 mayors and senior city officials from across the U.S., collectively representing 3.5 million Americans and over 700,000 youth, to develop and implement a neighborhood-based cradle-to-career strategy in their communities. Mr. Canada honored Mayor Nichols and the next generation of leaders in the field: “There are leaders in this room who are going to carry this work forward — that’s the best legacy we could leave.”

“We’re weaving together a network of services so tightly, no one will fall through the cracks. That's the genius of the Harlem Children’s Zone.” For Day 2 of Summer Institute hosted by our William Julius Wilson Institute and The EdRedesign Lab, Harlem Children’s Zone CEO Kwame Owusu-Kesse and Dr. Saskia Brown, Superintendent of Promise Academy Charter Schools and Early Childhood Programs, discussed the power of HCZ’s pipeline of cradle-to-career services in empowering the success of tens of thousands of young people and families in Harlem. From The Baby College to our College Success Office and Wealth Builds initiative, our scholars get the resources and opportunities they need to thrive in college, career, and life. However, as Mr. Owusu-Kesse stressed, while our impact is centered in Harlem, “our work was never just about Harlem.” Through our national leadership initiatives, we’re working with organizations like HCZ to scale our impact across the country. #PowerofPlace

Our William Julius Wilson Institute kicked off our annual Summer Institute: Transforming Place through Neighborhood Leadership, co-hosted by The EdRedesign Lab at Harvard Graduate School of Education! For the fourth year in a row, we’ve convened hundreds of cross-sector leaders — representing 103 neighborhood organizations and 13 city governments from 84 cities in 31 states — at Harvard University for a three-day event dedicated to accelerating the impact of organizations advancing place-based, cradle-to-career solutions. For Day 1’s theme, “Start with Place,” we explored neighborhoods as the unit of change in creating social and economic mobility for children and families across the country. From energizing speakers to thought-provoking conversations, we’re just getting started. Stay tuned for more coverage from Cambridge! #PowerofPlace

Congratulations to our HCZ Promise Academy High School Class of 2025! 🎓 As you step into this exciting next chapter, know that your journey with HCZ doesn’t end here. You’re joining a community of nearly 1,000 current HCZ college students across the country. Our College Success Office will be there to support you every step of the way, helping you persist through college and earn your degree. Keep raising the bar and keep making us proud. We love you! #HCZGradSZN

Meet Juliet Matthews, Assistant Director of our Peacemakers P.S. 76 and a passionate advocate for our scholars. Since joining HCZ in 2018 — first serving as a Sports and Recreation Specialist and later, as a Health Coordinator at HCZ Promise Academy I Teen After School — Juliet has brought energy, care, and purpose to all of her roles. Today, she leads a team serving our K–8 public school scholars, and leverages her love of fitness to inspire them to build strong bodies and minds. Thank you, Juliet, for your leadership and dedication to helping our scholars thrive! Want to join a team making an impact? Explore career opportunities here: hcz.social/careers