By Ann Doss Helms
ahelms@charlotteobserver.com

Geoffrey Canada, founder of the Harlem Children's Zone, Thursday told hundreds of Charlotte leaders that children are experiencing the educational equivalent of Hurricane Katrina, standing on rooftops desperate for help.

"Nobody's coming," he said. "Nobody's going to save our children. You have to save your own children."

Canada spoke at the annual meeting of the Foundation for the Carolinas, which drew a sellout crowd of 1,500. His quest to break the cycle of poverty and academic failure in one of New York City's poorest neighborhoods has sparked national and local attention.

Canada had the crowd laughing at tales of his appearances on "60 Minutes" and "The Oprah Winfrey Show." But he said he goes on such shows to sound a dire warning: "I've become convinced that if our country continues down this path, there's no way we are going to remain a leading power."

While China is working to "bury us" by producing highly educated workers, the United States is building jails to accommodate huge numbers of low-income African-American children who are in the "cradle-to-prison pipeline," he said. He contrasted the $39,000 a year it costs to incarcerate adults, with no benefit to society, with the $5,000 a year he spends on each child hoping to break the cycle.

Canada's program starts before birth, with a "Baby College" that teaches impoverished parents about brain research. Canada said "families of color" traditionally believe young children should be quiet and behave, while talking and exploring their world is what helps them prepare for school.

"Our children who are poor enter this world behind, and every day works against them," he said.

The Harlem Children's Zone, which has grown from 24 blocks to 97, also includes preschool, charter schools and efforts to improve the surrounding community. The crowd applauded when Canada said he demands that his teachers prepare all students for college, and fires them if they fail.

"We can't have schools where adults give excuses and the children pay the price of failure," he said. "I think if you take the money, you should deliver the service."

Support for low-income students must continue through college, he said.

As a presidential candidate, Barack Obama was so impressed by Canada's work that he vowed to offer grants to create similar projects in 20 cities.

In Charlotte, educators, agency heads and civic leaders have been talking about whether Charlotte could follow that path. Some have been experimenting with smaller-scale projects, such as the new Charlotte Empowerment Zone serving about 30 children in a low-income south Charlotte apartment complex.

Cathy Bessant, the foundation's new board chair, urged the crowd to use Canada's inspiration to "redouble our energy, redouble our commitment.

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