Geoffrey Canada

Geoffrey Canada is an educator, philanthropist, author, and social activist best known for his passionate crusade to reform the American education system.

Growing up in poverty in the South Bronx, Canada witnessed firsthand the struggles of many inner-city families. He dreamt of making a positive difference in the lives of those around him, and believed education was the first step to do it. Canada worked his way up to become the president and CEO of the Harlem Children's Zone, an organization focused on providing underprivileged children with the educational and social tools they need to achieve their goals.

Throughout his career, Canada has written extensively on how government systems fail children in inner cities, and the policies needed to correct them. In particular, he is passionate about the need to break the link between poverty and educational underachievement. His first book, published in 1998, was a national best seller titled "Fist Stick Knife Gun: A Personal History of Violence in America.” In it, he argues that the only way to stop violence in a society is through improving education.

Canada's later books dealt with issues of race and poverty, and how the education system failed to help people escape these systems. In his 2006 book, Work Hard. Be Nice, he discussed his Harlem Children's Zone Experiment and the impact it had on the lives of those involved. Canada details his experiences working in the inner cities and his drive to reform the education system.

His most recent book is titled, Reimagining The Education System. In it, Canada argues that schools need to replace the outdated educational models with more effective models, so students can be better prepared for the challenges of the 21st century. He advocates for a holistic approach to teaching and learning, ensuring students receive academic and social-emotional support which has been shown to help students succeed.

Throughout his career, Canada has been vocal about his call to reform education in America. In particular, he is an advocate for early childhood education, an area where he believes significant progress can be made. As well, Canada recently launched a new organization, Promise Neighborhoods, to help communities develop better educational options for kids in poverty.

Geoffrey Canada is a tireless advocate for education reform and for children in poverty. His books are believed to be pivotal in making people realize the need for educational reform, and he remains invested in helping build a better future for the next generation.