On Thursday, October 27, 2005, United Ways across Connecticut welcomed renowned author and child advocate Geoffrey Canada to Bridgeport Holiday Inn. In the October 31 US News & World Report Mr. Canada was proclaimed one of America’s 25 Best Leaders and was profiled in the article, “Thriving in the Zone.” In his sold-out presentation, “Working Together to Close the Achievement Gap," Mr. Canada, President & CEO of The Harlem Children’s Zone, addressed the tie between economic disparities and school readiness and detailed how this “preparation gap” can lead to an “achievement gap” throughout a child’s school career and later life. Mr. Canada is the author of two books, Fist Stick Knife Gun: A Personal History of Violence in America and Reaching Up for Manhood.

Left to right: Adrienne Farrar Houel, Chair of United Way's
Operation Graduation initiative; Jeff Klaus, New Haven Market
President, Bank of America; and Geoffrey Canada, President & CEO,
The Harlem Children's Zone.

Bernicestine Bailey and Dr. John Ramos, Jr.,
Superintendent of Bridgeport Schools.

Merle Berke-Schlessel, Esq., President & CEO of
United Way of Eastern Fairfield County.

Dr. John Ramos, Jr., Superintendent of Bridgeport Schools.

Geoffrey Canada, President & CEO, The Harlem Children's Zone.

Fran Rabinowitz, Associate Commissioner,
Connecticut State Department of Education.

Cheryl Saloom, ACES; Jeff Klaus, New Haven Market President,
Bank of America; and Sonja Ahuja, League of Women Voters.

Geoffrey Canada, President & CEO, The Harlem Children's Zone.

Left to right: Dr. Thomas Kennedy, Bridgeport Hospital and Co-chair Success By 6; Paul Timpanelli, CEO, BRBC and United Way Board Member; Cindy Kissin, President, Greater Bridgeport Area Foundation; and Laura Berry Community Foundation of Greater New Haven

Paul Timpanelli, CEO, BRBC and United Way Board Member;
Cindy Kissin, President, Greater Bridgeport Area Foundation;
Laura Berry Community Foundation of Greater New Haven; and
Nancy Doniger Hometown Publications Managing Editor