He was already revered as one of the most dynamic figures trying to change public education in this country, but the release last fall of the documentary "Waiting for Superman" gave Geoffrey Canada an even bigger platform to discuss what he has accomplished over the past 20 years with the Harlem's Children's Zone, and he'll be doing so next Monday in Tampa, March 2, when he will give the keynote address at the 24th Annual Children's Mental Health Research and Policy Conference.
The topic of education reform has been big over the past couple of years, and Canada has been acclaimed for what he's accomplished with the Harlem Children’s Zone, specifically for his advocacy to reform urban education, inner-city poverty and the achievement gap among underprivileged children. U.S. News & World Report has called Canada one of “America’s Best Leaders: for his work with the Harlem Children’s Zone.
Canada is expected to speak about his models for reform that combine educational, social and medical services that start at birth and follow children to college.
This article appears in Mar 17-23, 2011.