Going Big

In September of 2008, This American Life did a show called Going Big. The first act was about Geoffrey Canada and the Harlem Children's Zone. This episode was so inspiring that it has stuck with me during the past two years since I have listened to it and it continues to effect how I view education reform and problem solving in general.

From This American Life's website:

Prologue.

Host Ira Glass introduces a story on the most ambitious and hopeful solution to urban poverty in the country—the Harlem Children’s Zone. The project’s goal is nothing less than changing the lives of thousands of children in Harlem, starting at birth and continuing until they go to college. (2 minutes)

Act One. Harlem Renaissance.

Paul Tough reports on the Harlem Children’s Zone, and its CEO and president, Geoffrey Canada. Among the project’s many facets is Baby College, an 8-week program where young parents and parents-to-be learn how to help their children get the education they need to be successful. Tough’s just-published book about Geoffrey Canada and the Harlem's Children Zone is called Whatever It Takes. You can see a slideshow of more photographs from the project here. (30 and 1⁄2 minutes)

Going Big can be listened to here for free.