Geoffrey Canada facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Geoffrey Canada
|
|
|---|---|
.jpg)
Canada in 2024
|
|
| Born | January 13, 1952 Bronx, NY, U.S.
|
| Education | Bowdoin College (BA) Harvard University (MEd) |
Geoffrey Canada (born January 13, 1952) is an American educator, social activist, and author. He is well-known for his work helping children in Harlem, New York. Since 1990, Canada has led the Harlem Children's Zone. This organization works to help students in Harlem finish high school and go to college. It helps children in a large area of Harlem, focusing on those who need the most support. Canada believes that to improve education, we must start helping kids early and never give up. He also helps lead the Children's Defense Fund.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Geoffrey Canada was born in the Bronx, NY. His parents separated when he was young. He was raised by his mother. Growing up, he saw a lot of crime and disorder around him.
When Canada was a teenager, his mother sent him to live with his grandparents. They lived in Wyandanch, New York. He went to Wyandanch Memorial High School. During his last year, he won a scholarship from a group called the Fraternal Order of Masons.
Canada went to Bowdoin College. He earned a degree in psychology and sociology in 1974. Later, he earned a master's degree in education from Harvard Graduate School of Education. His brother, Derrick Canada, was a player for the Harlem Globetrotters.
The Harlem Children's Zone
In 1990, Geoffrey Canada started working with an organization called Rheedlen Centers for Children and Families. He became its president. He wanted to do more to help kids. So, he changed the organization into the Harlem Children's Zone (HCZ).
The Harlem Children's Zone helps young people with their school careers. It started by focusing on a 24-block area in Harlem. Over the years, it grew to help kids in a 97-block area. Canada was the president and CEO of HCZ until July 2014.
The New York Times Magazine wrote about the Harlem Children's Zone in 2004. They called it "one of the biggest social experiments of our time." A book called Whatever It Takes: Geoffrey Canada's Quest to Change Harlem and America was published in 2008. It was about Canada's work. Also, U.S. News & World Report named him one of America's Best Leaders in 2005.
Canada has appeared on many TV shows. These include 60 Minutes, The Oprah Winfrey Show, and Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. In 2010, he was in an American Express commercial. It showed his important work at the Harlem Children's Zone.
In 2009, U.S. President Barack Obama announced plans to copy the HCZ idea. He wanted to start similar programs in 20 other cities across the country.
Canada is also a main person in the movie Waiting for Superman. This movie is a documentary about public education in America. It won an award at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival.
Books by Geoffrey Canada
Canada has written two books. His first book, Fist Stick Knife Gun: A Personal History of Violence in America, came out in 1995. In this book, Canada shares his own experiences with violence when he was a child. He also suggests ways to reduce violence in cities. A graphic novel version of this book was released in 2010.
Publishers Weekly praised Fist, Stick, Knife, Gun. They said it was a very powerful story about the lives of children in cities.
In 1998, Canada published his second book. It is called Reaching Up For Manhood: Transforming the Lives of Boys in America.
Awards and Honors
Geoffrey Canada has received many awards for his work:
- The First Annual Heinz Award in the Human Condition (1995)
- National Jefferson Award for Greatest Public Service Benefiting the Disadvantaged (2007)
- "Local Hero" honor at 2010 BET Awards
He has also received many honorary degrees from colleges and universities:
- Doctor of Humane Letters, Bowdoin College (2007)
- Doctor of Humane letters, Tulane University (2010)
- Doctor of Laws, Columbia University (2010)
- Doctor of Laws, Princeton University (2011)
- Doctor of Humane Letters, Tufts University (2011)
- Doctor of Humane Letters, University of Pennsylvania (2012)
- Doctor of Humane Letters, Dartmouth College
- Doctor of Humane Letters, Brandeis University (2014)
- Doctor of Humane Letters, Bates College (2017)
- Honorary Degree, Berea College (2022)
Other Important Roles
In 2006, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg chose Geoffrey Canada for an important role. He asked Canada to help lead a group called the Commission on Economic Opportunity. This group worked to find ways to reduce poverty. In 2011, he joined the New York State Governor's Council of Economic and Fiscal Advisers. He also advises and serves on the boards of many non-profit organizations.
