Geoffrey serves as the President of the Harlem Children's Zone (HCZ), an organization that states its goal is to increase high school and college graduation rates among students in Harlem. From 1990 to 2014, he also served as the CEO of HCZ, which The New York Times called “one of the most ambitious social-policy experiments of our time.” In 2011, he was named one of TIME's 100 list of most influential people in the world and, in March 2014, was named one of Fortune’s 50 greatest leaders in the world.

Geoffrey has written two books: Fist Stick Knife Gun: A Personal History of Violence in America (also adapted as a graphic novel) and Reaching Up for Manhood: Transforming the Lives of Boys in America. Geoffrey Canada was chosen by Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York in 2006 to serve as co-chair of the Commission on Economic Opportunity tasked to formulate a scheme that would considerably trim down poverty.  In 2011, he was selected to join the New York State Governor's Council of Economic and Fiscal Advisers. He is an adviser to and board member of many non-profit entities. He has also been named the President of Promise Academy Boards.

In this episode of Intersections, Prof. Hitendra Wadhwa has a conversation with Geoffrey Canada on the topic “Reforming Humanity, and Reforming Our Selves”.

The recent wave of global protests against racism has shaken up societies around the world as people realize that our goal to create a more equal, just and fair world is far from accomplished. What is required to create a more equal society? How can we heal and grow as a nation and a planet?

“When you see a great teacher, you are seeing a work of art.”

Geoffrey Canada

The episode “Reforming Humanity, and Reforming Our Selves” offers key insights on:

• How circumstances shape people’s identity, sense of self and more
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• Four factors to unleash the full potential of people
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• How to build a team that helps transform our community