Inspiration In Harlem, New York!

I changed my domestic website to the Harlem Children's Zone (HCZ):  http://www.hcz.org.   HCZ has made an extraordinary difference in the lives of thousands of  poor children in New York.  HCZ has done this by bringing many support services to children and families where they live.  In 1997, HCZ brought services to a 24 block area of drug-ridden Harlem, New York.  Now, they bring services to 8,000 children and 6,000 adults within a 100 block area. HCZ brings services to address all the issues that poor families face, and they are getting results.   For example, 190 four-year olds that entered the Harlem Gems program in 2009 went form 16.5% classified as delayed or very delayed to no students classified as very delayed.  Percentage of "advanced" students went from 21.3% to 41.6%.  Wow!  I love it!  The issue I identified from the HCZ site is the significant investment that is required to turn things around for Harlem families.  The fiscal year 2010 budget for HCZ was $75 million to support the Harlem Zone and surrounding areas.  How do we make the investment needed in children and families if decision-makers are focused on a machete approach to spending for domestic programs.  The answer is the "community" beyond geographic borders.  We all have to feel a sense of community regardless if the school children are actually our children or if we live in the area.  "The test of a morality of a society is what it does for its children" - Dietrich Bonhoeffer. HCZ and its leader, Geoffrey Canada are an inspiration.  I'm ready to step up!