Ideas worth spreading

5 needs that any COVID-19 response should meet

1,731,262 views | Kwame Owusu-Kesse • TED2020

Crisis interventions often focus on a single aspect of a big, complicated problem, failing to address the broader social and economic context. Kwame Owusu-Kesse describes how the Harlem Children's Zone is taking a more holistic approach to the pandemic, weaving together a network of services to help communities recover and rebuild. Learn more about their comprehensive COVID-19 relief and recovery response focused on five primary areas of need -- and their plans to scale it across the US. (This ambitious plan is a part of the Audacious Project, TED's initiative to inspire and fund global change.)

Crisis interventions often focus on a single aspect of a big, complicated problem, failing to address the broader social and economic context. Kwame Owusu-Kesse describes how the Harlem Children's Zone is taking a more holistic approach to the pandemic, weaving together a network of services to help communities recover and rebuild. Learn more about their comprehensive COVID-19 relief and recovery response focused on five primary areas of need -- and their plans to scale it across the US. (This ambitious plan is a part of the Audacious Project, TED's initiative to inspire and fund global change.)

This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

Support underserved black and brown families in Harlem during the COVID-19 crisis.

Learn how you can support our children in Harlem on their career path.

About the speaker

Kwame Owusu-Kesse

Kwame Owusu-Kesse

Community leader

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Kwame Owusu-Kesse ensures the programming, financial and administrative functions of the Harlem Children's Zone and acts as a mentor and counsel to students and staff.

Rayner Ramirez | Tilt Shift Media, 2020 | Watch

Harlem Rising

Over twenty years ago, Geoffrey Canada dared to imagine a different, better future for the impoverished, vulnerable community of Central Harlem. His story — along with a group of dedicated people who've turned his vision into reality as the pioneering Harlem Children's Zone (HZC) — is the focus of Harlem Rising, a new documentary film directed by Rayner Ramirez.

R. Fryer, W. Dobbie | American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, 2011 | Article

"Are High-Quality Schools Enough to Increase Achievement Among the Poor? Evidence from the Harlem Children's Zone"

The first empirical test of Promise Academy's impact on educational outcomes, Dr. Fryer's important study demonstrates that our elementary school students successfully closed the racial achievement gap in math and English, while our middle school students closed the gap in math and narrowed it by half in English.

Justin Wolfers | New York Times, 2015 | Article

"Why the New Research on Mobility Matters: An Economist's View"

A study by the Harvard economists Raj Chetty and Nathaniel Hendren — when read in combination with an important study written with Lawrence Katz — makes the most compelling case to date that good neighborhoods nurture success.

CNN Newsroom with Poppy Harlow, 2020 | Watch

"Kwame Owusu-Kesse Discusses HCZ's COVID-19 Response on CNN"

CEO-elect Kwame Owusu-Kesse appeared on CNN Newsroom with Poppy Harlow to discuss HZC's response to COVID-19, the pandemic's impact on Harlem and communities across the country and the critical work ahead.

Squawk Box, 2020 | Watch

"Stanley Druckenmiller and Kwame Owusu-Kesse Discuss Scaling the Harlem Children’s Zone Model Nationally"

HCZ has been investing in education and support for children of New York City since the 1990s. Stanley Druckenmiller, the Chairman of the Board of HCZ, and Kwame Owusu-Kesse, incoming CEO of HCZ, join Squawk Box to discuss how to scale the HCZ model nationally.

Learn more

This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

Support underserved black and brown families in Harlem during the COVID-19 crisis.

Learn how you can support our children in Harlem on their career path.