Harlem Achievement Zone President & CEO Geoffrey Canada–nationally recognized for his pioneering work helping children and families in Harlem recently visited the Twin Cities and spoke to nonprofit and philanthropic leaders at Greater Twin Cities United Way on Friday, April 19. His message–communities can bolster economic growth by eradicating the disparities which threaten the vitality of our nation–namely, the academic achievement gap. The majority of his comments reflected the Promise Neighborhood movement inspired by the Harlem Children’s Zone’s work in North Minneapolis.

In this final addition of our special blog series, United Front’s Education Community explores how reductions in state and federal funding is adversely impacting Minnesota Afterschool programs — “essential ingredients for the learning and development of successful young people.”

Part Three: Afterschool Programs Make a Difference

What we know about afterschool programs:

• The range of learning opportunities is amazing. Participants can learn to swim, to use and/or build computers, to volunteer in their communities, to lead and design their own learning opportunities, to be active in sports and physical activities, to be an artist, a farmer and gardener, or to sing. READ MORE

The Hell of American Day Care | New Republic

An investigation into the barely regulated, unsafe business of looking after our children.
Read Article

High Cost of Education is Lesson Learned Early | Pioneer Press

“The state doesn’t require all-day kindergarten, so districts don’t have to offer it for free.” Read Article