Sharing Web Resources

I chose the Harlem Children's Zone (www.hcz.org) as the organization to immerse my self in and learn more about. The goal of this organization is to break the cycle of generational poverty in Harlem through education and service; providing support and resources to children and their families. I signed up for the newsletter, but have not received one yet, so I went to the website and perused articles in the News section. It appears that there are 1-2 news articles posted to the website monthly. I didn't find much on the issue of cultural diversity in the articles, although I have no doubt that cultural diversity encompasses the very fabric of the comprehensive educational model developed by CEO Geoffrey Canada. The schools are in Harlem where the culture is rich and diverse. Harlem in and of itself is a melting pot where you have African Americans, Latinos and West Indians to name a few. You can go to one block and get soul food and the next and get Spanish rice and beans. The students have no choice but to be immersed in cultural diversity because of the location alone. I am speaking from experience as I was raised in Harlem.

One article that did catch my attention was written by Geoffrey Canada for the Huffington Post on encouraging children to engage in public service, and HCZ’s extensive work with AmeriCorps workers. In the Article, Canada states, “My hope is that this year our children will learn about the world around them in a new way - not just about geological facts and historical dates, but as a place they can step into and make an imprint by serving others. I want them to learn to see the status quo as just raw material that they themselves can make better. If we only prepare our children for a life of wage-earning and not of serving their community, we are denying them an opportunity to experience their own greatness. It is time for our country to make public service a part of young people's lives just as we do with their education. Children should learn history, but they should also learn how to make history.”

This article resonated with me because it is so important to give back. I learned this at a young age and it has helped me became a more well rounded individual--sensitive to the needs of others. Children need to learn the importance of service, and why not start at a young age.

I look forward to reading more articles from the HCZ.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/geoffrey-canada/post_5662_b_3947738.html