Making Connections' sites at the Harlem Children's Zone Conference

Each one of the Making Connections’ sites, along with civic sites, was sponsored by Annie E. Casey Foundation (AECF) for up to four representatives to attend the Harlem Children’s Zone (HCZ) Conference in New York City on November 9th and 10th. The Harlem Children’s Zone Project is a comprehensive network of education, social-service and community-building programs. They provide a conveyor belt of services for children that runs from birth through college, while strengthening the families and neighborhoods around these children. HCZ now serves 17,000 children and adults within a 100-block area. They run two public charter schools, as well as an array of after-school programs.

We had more than 80 participants in attendance at the conference; total conference attendance was 1400 from around the country. The AECF also sponsored an additional day and a half for sites to explore in more detail their capacity around leadership, data, planning, and results-based financing in successfully applying for a Promise Neighborhoods planning grant.