Green Farms Academy Announces Commencement Speaker

From Green Farms Academy: Greens Farms Academy announced this week that the 2017 commencement speaker will be Geoffrey Canada, the founder and president of the Harlem Children's Zone (HCZ). Canada has worked with HCZ for more than 30 years, and is respected worldwide for his work with children and families. As a thought-leader and advocate for education reform, he has been recognized by Time magazine as one of its 100 most influential people (2011), and Fortune magazine as one of the 50 greatest leaders in the world (March 2014).

HCZ is a not-for- profit organization that helps thousands of children and families in Harlem by disrupting the cycle of generational poverty in Central Harlem through innovative and effective programs. The organization helps more than 12,000 children get to and through college in order to become self-sustaining adults.

The organization was featured in the documentary Waiting for Superman and has been profiled on many TV shows, like 60 Minutes, The Oprah Winfrey Show, and in many international publications. The book Whatever It Takes, by Paul Tough, profiles Canada and his work with HCZ.

Canada has written two books: Fist Stick Knife Gun: A Personal History of Violence in America and Reaching Up for Manhood: Transforming the Lives of Boys in America, and often contributes op-eds to the New York Times, among other publications. In 2013 he gave a TED Talk about the nation's failing schools and their need for innovation. Canada has served on the New York City Commission on Economic Opportunity and the New York State Governor’s Council of Economic and Fiscal Advisors.

Greens Farms Academy's commencement will be June 8 at 9 a.m. on the school's front lawn. For more information, visit www.gfacademy.org.

Image Via Pixabay