Harlem Children’s Zone

I was listening to This American Life a while back (episode 364-called going big). One installment, called Harlem Renaissance, was an interview by Paul Tough’s about Geoffrey Canada and the Harlem's Children Zone . Tough has writtne a book called Whatever It Takes about this project. I found the interview fascinating for a couple of reasons:

1. It talked about generational urban poverty and differences in the way poor and affluent children are raised. Especially interesting was the difference in the nubmer and types of works poor and rich kids hear.
2. It talks about the basic life skills that are often missing in the poor. Those abilities to make decisions for delayed gratification, social interactions, etc. that often present more of a problem that lack of marketable specific skills in combating poverty.
3. The idea that instead of helping the parents to help the kids, it may be necessary to actually directly help the kids when they are still impressionable.