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The Baby College
The HCZ has forged relationships with several organizations and experts in the field including Dr. T. Berry Brazelton, the noted pediatrician and child development expert, to expand the work of our Baby College to reach all parents in the HCZ who are either expecting a child or raising one between the ages of 0 to 3years. It is our goal to provide these residents with both a range of information and the supports necessary to raise happy and healthy children who enter school ready to learn. [Click here for an in-depth look at The Baby College]
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The Three Year Old Journey
This program was strategically designed to work with parents who graduated from our Baby College program (and whose children have been accepted to our early enrollment lottery for and the HCZ Promise Academy Charter School) to provide them an intensive multi-month program to keep them engaged and prepare them for our our pre-kindergarten programs. Workshops are designed to teach parents developmental theories and milestones, enhance parenting skills, and provide information on the knowledge and skills of pre-kindergarten students. The program focuses heavily on literacy. Workshops are run by HCZ staff, as well as experts in the field including a speech pathologist and Dr. T. Berry Brazelton and his staff at the Brazelton Touchpoints Center. Also in keeping with The Baby College model, parents can bring their children to the program, who are then provided with small and large group activities focused on developing vital socio-emotional and motor skills in a 4:1 child to adult ratio setting.
Harlem Gems
This Universal Pre-Kindergarten program located at PS 149/207 provides 40 four-year olds with an intellectually and socially stimulating curriculum that helps prepare them to enter kindergarten ready to learn. Through licensed teachers and Peacemakers in each classroom, The Gems support children with a 4:1 child to adult ratio.
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Harlem Peacemakers
HCZ's AmeriCorps funded program identifies and trains young people who are committed to making their neighborhoods safe places for children and families. Through its School Success Project, over 150 Peacemakers work directly in classrooms and operate after-school and summer programs at PS 76, PS 149, PS 154, PS 197, and PS 242, serving 1,200 elementary children in the HCZ. [Click here for an in-depth look at the Peacemakers program.]
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The Renaissance University for Community Education (TRUCE)
This comprehensive youth development program for adolescents ages 12-19, fosters academic growth and career readiness with an emphasis on the arts and multi-media technology. The Real Deal, TRUCE's award winning video and literacy program, is a cable television program that features poetry, video dramas and documentaries. Harlem Overheard is the only youth produced newspaper in Harlem where young writers and entrepreneurs have an opportunity to develop their communication, leadership and marketing skills through its quarterly publication. The Insight Center, provides the needed academic support, college prep and multi-cultural exposure to prepare students for college and careers. The TRUCE Fitness and Nutrition Center, the first youth run fitness center in the nation, offers residents in the HCZ free access to fitness classes and equipment and nutrition information. [Click here for an in-depth look at TRUCE]
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College Success Office
The HCZ College Success Office (CSO) mission is to guide students to become empowered self-advocates of their college education and future careers. The
CSO provides year-round academic, personal and financial counseling as well
as civic engagement opportunities to students, working on two primary levels:
For 2,000 high school students - provides college preparation and
activities such as test preparation, one-on-one tutoring, workshops,
guidance on the college application process and college trips through six of
HCZ’s youth development program sites.
For 300 college students - offers college support services such as assistance with academic plans and study strategies, workshops, counseling,
financial assistance, internships and other career readiness activities and guidance with post-graduate opportunities.
Employment and Technology Center
The Employment and Technology Center helps the community develop and
strengthen their skills in technology, employment and academics. In this
age of information technology, it is critical for both youth and adults to be computer-literate. At ETC, three programs integrate technology and academics: an after-school
program for high school youth, a Saturday program for children ages 5-10, and
computer classes for adults. Academic success is a priority for all of the youth classes: tutoring is required, and reading, writing and
critical thinking are incorporated into the classes. The adult computer
classes offer introductory-level classes in the major computer
applications, such as MicroSoft Word, Excel and Powerpoint. In addition, ETC's resource room is
open to the community for job searching with access to the Internet, a fax
machine and a photocopier.
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Family Support Center
This walk-in store front facility provides families in crisis with immediate access to professional social services including foster care prevention, domestic violence workshops and parenting skills classes.
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Community Pride
This resident driven, neighborhood revitalization program which began on W. 119th Street, has led to the creation of community coalitions and the transfer of city-owned buildings to resident management and ownership. Community Pride's block-by-block, building-by-building organizing strategy is being replicated throughout the Harlem Children's Zone. [Click here for an in-depth look at this program.]
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HCZ Community Center
The HCZ Community Center is a year-round comprehensive program located at 35 East 125th Street. The program operates Monday-Saturday, from 8 a.m. – 9 p.m. and noon – 4 p.m. on Sunday (program hours vary slightly during the summer). There are program activities for middle to high school students (ages 11 – 18) and adults. Activities include:
Academic Enrichment: Students are provided with a variety of academic supports, including homework assistance, one-on-one tutoring (facilitated by English Language Arts and Math Specialists), test preparation and integrated academic enrichment activities. For our high school students there is Regents prep, SAT prep, in addition to writing and math workshops. There are also computer-based reading and math programming and our Investment Club, which teaches about personal finance, for middle and high school students.
Sports and Recreation: Youth participate in safe, structured, supervised recreational activities, including competitive and non-competitive sports (Martial Arts, basketball, volleyball, double-dutch, table tennis, etc.) and games (board games, chess, puzzles, etc.) Activities will promote gross motor skills, coordination, strategic thinking, social skills, sportsmanship, and team building.
Performing and Fine Arts: As part of their cultural and artistic enrichment, students are engaged in a variety of fine and performing arts programs, including dance (African, Step, Tap and Hip Hop), music, poetry, arts and crafts, photography, theatre, and film & book review (urban voices).
Health and Wellness: Students and adults are afforded an opportunity to participate in a variety of health and wellness activities - ranging from nutrition classes, healthy cooking, aerobics, health assessments, personal fitness planning, sports conditioning, yoga, individual counseling and our monthly Farmers Market.
Rites of Passage: Our “Prepared 4 Purpose” program offers our middle school students gender-specific activities leading to the exploration of values, relationships, self-esteem, goal setting, human sexuality, personal development, etc. Students are separated by gender and assigned to small groups.
Project CHOICES (Considering How Options I Choose Effect Self): Our high school students are provided the following services in this program component: counseling, family interventions, mental health referrals, benefits/entitlement assistance, advocacy and expert presentations in areas most critical to the social and mental health of our adolescents. Students also can take job-readiness and career-goals workshops.
Community Service: Through our community service projects students will develop consistent and positive relationships with adults and peers and a sense of community. The projects will foster high expectations for participants, help them develop skills and creativity, support healthy behaviors and promote physical well-being.
The HCZ Community Center also provides a forum for the neighborhood, such as community meetings, health fairs, book fairs, parent forums and youth leadership initiatives.
This site houses the following:
- The HCZ Promise Academy Charter School providing the highest quality education for up to 600 middle and high school children. The school includes:
- Peacemakers in every classroom;
- A modern library with research facilities;
- A state-of-the-art computer lab;
- A science laboratory;
- A gymnasium/all-purpose room; and
- An auditorium/cafeteria.
- A medical clinic to provide families with free immunizations, physicals and health education;
- A Practitioners Institute to share our best practices with other communities;
- Administrative offices for the President/CEO and the administrative staff.
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