The HCZ Difference
What started as a movement to transform Central Harlem has grown into a vision for breaking the cycle of intergenerational poverty across the world. Since our founding, our pioneering place-based model has grown to scale and serves more than 22,500 children and families annually within our 97-block Zone. Our impact at home has garnered global attention—we have hosted thought leaders and partnered with organizations from across the United States and over 200 countries who seek guidance on how to replicate our model.
A selection of our proudest achievements follows:
900+
HCZ students in college
1,100
who have graduated college since 2011
12,000
participants in our Healthy Harlem program
7,038
graduates from The Baby College®
535
U.S. groups visiting the Practitioners Institute
196
international groups visiting the Practitioners Institute
Cycle of Achievement
Each year, well over 100 newly-minted college graduates join our cohort. They return home as community-engaged citizens and role models for the new children and families that enter the Baby College® and move through our programs. And that’s the point. We innovate to impact at scale—creating a cycle of achievement that lifts up children and families in Harlem and across the nation.

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Our HistoryEven before we were HCZ, we were innovating new solutions to old problems.