Newsletter

2020

COVID-19 RELIEF AND RECOVERY TO HARLEM COMMUNITIES

© Harlem Childrens Zone

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2020

HARLEM CHILDREN’S ZONE

Harlem Children’s Zone (HCZ) works to end intergenerational poverty in Central Harlem, New York. Its on-the-ground programmes build opportunities for children and families to thrive in school, work and life. We supported HCZ during the COVID-19 crisis in 2020.

CHALLENGE

COVID-19 hit African American communities disproportionately hard, creating a health and economic crisis with black New Yorkers at its epicenter. The pandemic amplified and worsened existing social inequalities tied to race, class, and access to the healthcare system.

© Harlem Childrens Zone

ACTION

During the height of COVID-19, Harlem Children’s Zone designed and implemented a five-phase emergency response and recovery plan, including:

  • Protecting the most vulnerable by ensuring equitable access to masks, thermometers, information for safety and protection, and economic support.
  • Bridging the digital divide by providing HCZ students and staff with laptops and Wi-Fi hotspots, as well as high quality virtual access to remote afterschool programmes.
  • Preventing learning loss with a proactive testing strategy that ensured children and families could safely return to in-person activities.
  • Mitigating the mental health crisis by providing telehealth services and support groups.
  • Providing emergency cash relief, which allowed the most vulnerable to pay utility bills, phone bills, housing costs, and medical fees.

IMPACT

10,000
+

INDIVIDUALS RECEIVED CASH ASSISTANCE

as of December 2020

35,000
+

MASKS DISTRIBUTED ACROSS NEW YORK CITY

along with nearly 2,200 thermometers

2,500

LEARNING DEVICES DISTRIBUTED TO STUDENTS

together with over 350 Wi-Fi hotspots

4,000

TWO-WEEK SUPPLIES OF NON-PERISHABLE FOOD

and 28,000 pounds of fresh produce distributed, as of December 2020

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© Harlem Childrens Zone