Mayor Steven L. Reed Joins Mayors’ Academy at Harlem Children’s Zone to Strengthen Neighborhood-Based Strategies for Youth and Families

NEW YORK CITY – Mayor Steven L. Reed was one of 12 elected and city leaders, representing over 3.1 million residents and over 680,000 youth, who attended the Mayors’ Neighborhood Academy: One Million Points of Opportunity, a two-day convening hosted by William Julius Wilson Institute (WJWI) at Harlem Children’s Zone (HCZ) and the National League of Cities (NLC).  

Held at HCZ — a nationally acclaimed anti-poverty organization based in New York City — the Academy brought together a cohort of mayors to learn ways to develop and implement neighborhood-based strategies to combat poverty and open pathways to social and economic mobility in their cities. 

Joining mayors from cities like Dallas, Cleveland, and Tulsa, OK, Mayor Reed learned about HCZ’s pioneering, comprehensive, neighborhood-based effort to break the cycle of intergenerational poverty in Central Harlem and across the country.  

Mayors heard from HCZ leaders, including CEO Kwame Owusu-Kesse and President and Founder Geoffrey Canada, toured HCZ sites, and engaged in discussions around how to leverage strategies honed by HCZ to empower residents of their cities with resources and opportunities to succeed. 

“As Mayor of Montgomery, I’m inspired by the powerful lessons learned from Harlem Children’s Zone and this Academy,” said Reed. “Our city has a deep history of resilience, and by adopting these neighborhood-based strategies, we can break the cycle of poverty and build a brighter future for our children and families. This is about creating opportunity right here at home and ensuring every Montgomerian has the tools to thrive.” 

  “The American Dream — the promise that each generation can climb higher than the last — is slipping away. Mayors are uniquely positioned to catalyze and invest in neighborhood-based strategies that create tangible solutions for parents and children,” said Mr. Canada, who is also the Founder of WJWI. “By providing coordinated networks of services across education, healthcare, and community engagement in neighborhoods with entrenched generational poverty, cities can provide a real pathway to social and economic mobility.” 

  “At HCZ, our mission is to break the cycle of intergenerational poverty by providing comprehensive, wraparound services that support children and families from birth through college and career. Through our pipeline of programs, we have created a supportive ecosystem that equips every child with the resources and opportunities they need to reach their full potential,” said Mr. Owusu-Kesse. “There is tremendous potential for mayors to support similar strategies in their own cities to empower the success of their communities.” 

  “America's local leaders can have an enormous impact on young people's futures simply by supporting cradle-to-career systems in their communities,” said Clarence E. Anthony, CEO and Executive Director of NLC. “Partnerships like this one with HCZ give our members a tangible experience of just how transformative these programs can be for our cities, towns, and villages.” 

  The Academy will help the mayor and his staff strengthen partnerships with local school districts, child-serving neighborhood-based organizations, community leaders, and residents to design and support a coordinated continuum of services for children and youth. 

About William Julius Wilson Institute at Harlem Children’s Zone 

William Julius Wilson Institute (WJWI) at Harlem Children’s Zone (HCZ) is a national resource for place-based, people-focused solutions that open pathways to social and economic mobility. Named for one of our nation’s most prolific scholars on poverty and inequality, and founded and led by Geoffrey Canada, Founder and President of HCZ, and Kwame Owusu-Kesse, CEO of HCZ, the Institute works with on-the-ground collaborators and national partners to deliver comprehensive strategies, support services, and tools that systematically root out poverty and close opportunity gaps in neighborhoods across America. WJWI is a central hub for place-based services and programs, and for backbone organizations to access the support they need to be successful. To learn more, visit hcz.org/william-julius-wilson-institute/.  

About Harlem Children’s Zone 

Harlem Children’s Zone (HCZ) breaks the cycle of intergenerational poverty with on-the-ground, all-around programming that builds up opportunities for children, families, and communities to thrive in school, work, and life. From early childhood, education, and career programs to community outreach and wellness initiatives, HCZ opens pathways to mobility and prosperity.  

HCZ leads the way for communities around the country, improving the lives and livelihoods of millions. Together with our partners, we’re transforming the way we root out poverty in neighborhoods across the nation and around the world. 

About National League of Cities 

National League of Cities (NLC) is the voice of America’s cities, towns, and villages, representing more than 200 million people. NLC works to strengthen local leadership, influence federal policy, and drive innovative solutions.