Section I: Introduction In Harlem, 66% of children are born into poverty, 48% of households receive food assistance, 59% of children are born with single mothers, 44% of school children are obese, and 75% of participants report savings less then $1,000 (Harlem Children’s Zone). The Harlem Children’s Zone has driven the success of impoverished children with the strength of community to generate a new Harlem (Tough). The people of Harlem’s needs as a whole must be addressed by outside organizations and people as it is impossible for the inhabitants of Harlem to “pick themselves up by their bootstraps” due to the generational, institutional, and cultural poverty that the city has suffered for decades (Canada). Under their visionary leader, Geoffrey…show more content… Geoffrey Canada’s description of the Harlem Children’s Zone sums up the goal they hold deeply; “For our kids, our community, and our country, the best is truly yet to come” (Harlem Children’s Zone, Canada). The leadership sparked by Canada represses the automatic exploitation used on capitalism to oppress those of Harlem (Five Faces of Oppression). This economic theory of capitalism explained by Karl Marx states that people of all fiscal status are able to exchange good freely (Five Faces of Oppression). As a result, the establishment of social classes was created (Five Faces of Oppression). Dominated by the ruling class, the injustices associated with exploitation of ones capacities, in the case, the oppressed families in Central Harlem (Five Faces of Oppression). The Harlem Children’s Zone has achieved unprecedented success, by assisting children as well as Harlem families by “disrupting the cycle of generational poverty” through impactful programming…show more content… Each community has unique needs to be addressed and resources that capitalize in building a “pipeline” to serve local children and families (Canada). It’s evident that it is hard work and there must be a long-term commitment to see kids prosper their way into adulthood. There is no quick fix or magic solution—but there is hope, “we are proving, each and every day, that change is possible” (Canada). Presidential candidate Barack Obama offered a transformative plan for the inner cities of the United States. In a 2007 speech, he argued that the question of poverty could not be answered with Great Society programs, such as food stamps and welfare. If there is a desire to end the ongoing issue of poverty, the United States must “heal the entire community” (President Obama). Recently President Obama provided an accolade behalf of the Harlem Children’s Center saying, “An all-encompassing, all-hands-on-deck, anti-poverty effort that is literally saving a generation of children” (Harlem Children’s