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| How the C.E.O. of Harlem Children’s Zone Spends His Sundays | How the C.E.O. of Harlem Children’s Zone Spends His Sundays |
| (1 day later) | |
| Being promoted to chief executive of Harlem Children’s Zone in the middle of a pandemic didn’t feel like bad timing to Kwame Owusu-Kesse. Instead, he said, “it made me think more about our purpose and possibilities.” | Being promoted to chief executive of Harlem Children’s Zone in the middle of a pandemic didn’t feel like bad timing to Kwame Owusu-Kesse. Instead, he said, “it made me think more about our purpose and possibilities.” |
| Since its start in 1970, the nonprofit has worked toward breaking the cycle of intergenerational poverty with a lifelong approach, and a strong focus on education. Mr. Owusu-Kesse brings personal experience to the job. “My family had most of the same challenges our Harlem Children’s Zone children face — poverty, teen pregnancy, high-school dropouts,” said the 36-year-old, who grew up in Worcester, Mass. When he was a toddler, his mother met a nun at a local bingo game. “The nun fell in love with her and put me on an education pipeline,” he said. “Education changed my life.” | Since its start in 1970, the nonprofit has worked toward breaking the cycle of intergenerational poverty with a lifelong approach, and a strong focus on education. Mr. Owusu-Kesse brings personal experience to the job. “My family had most of the same challenges our Harlem Children’s Zone children face — poverty, teen pregnancy, high-school dropouts,” said the 36-year-old, who grew up in Worcester, Mass. When he was a toddler, his mother met a nun at a local bingo game. “The nun fell in love with her and put me on an education pipeline,” he said. “Education changed my life.” |
| Currently, Mr. Owusu-Kesse is focusing on helping schools navigate Covid-19 as they attempt to reopen. He lives in Harlem with his wife, Erin Carpenter, 35, the founder of the hosiery brand Nude Barre, and their 22-month-old daughter, Mikel, whose nickname is Chocolate Muffin. | Currently, Mr. Owusu-Kesse is focusing on helping schools navigate Covid-19 as they attempt to reopen. He lives in Harlem with his wife, Erin Carpenter, 35, the founder of the hosiery brand Nude Barre, and their 22-month-old daughter, Mikel, whose nickname is Chocolate Muffin. |
| GAME PLAN I open my eyes at 5:30, and 5:30 to 7 is the time for me to go through my emails, get centered and come up with a plan for the day. Then I have the first shift with Mikel. That starts with me waking her up, then singing to her and reading a book together. I’ll get her dressed and play with her in her room with puzzles and blocks before breakfast. | GAME PLAN I open my eyes at 5:30, and 5:30 to 7 is the time for me to go through my emails, get centered and come up with a plan for the day. Then I have the first shift with Mikel. That starts with me waking her up, then singing to her and reading a book together. I’ll get her dressed and play with her in her room with puzzles and blocks before breakfast. |
| PANDEMIC POTTY TRAINING One of the worst decisions we’ve made is trying to potty train a toddler during quarantine. After she eats we’ll say to her, “Hey, Mikel, do you need to use the potty?” We bring her into the bathroom and have an iPad ready with some of her favorite songs on it, like “The Wheels on the Bus” and “Old MacDonald Had a Farm.” She’s obsessed with “Baby Shark” but we’re trying to wean her off that. If she ends up using the potty, she’s overjoyed, she’s jumping up and down. | PANDEMIC POTTY TRAINING One of the worst decisions we’ve made is trying to potty train a toddler during quarantine. After she eats we’ll say to her, “Hey, Mikel, do you need to use the potty?” We bring her into the bathroom and have an iPad ready with some of her favorite songs on it, like “The Wheels on the Bus” and “Old MacDonald Had a Farm.” She’s obsessed with “Baby Shark” but we’re trying to wean her off that. If she ends up using the potty, she’s overjoyed, she’s jumping up and down. |
| BRUNCH, TO GO Before the workday starts, Erin and I have brunch. It’s a Sunday tradition. For now, we do takeout. The Edge is No. 1 for us. We love the food. | BRUNCH, TO GO Before the workday starts, Erin and I have brunch. It’s a Sunday tradition. For now, we do takeout. The Edge is No. 1 for us. We love the food. |
| BUSINESS By about 11:30, I’m upstairs digging into work. More often than not, that starts with a phone call to Geoff Canada, who founded Harlem Children’s Zone and is still president. Those calls can go on for hours. They’re general guidance and mentorship. | BUSINESS By about 11:30, I’m upstairs digging into work. More often than not, that starts with a phone call to Geoff Canada, who founded Harlem Children’s Zone and is still president. Those calls can go on for hours. They’re general guidance and mentorship. |
| Right now we’re talking about mitigating the risks of school reopenings in addition to a new institute we’re launching at Harlem Children’s Zone. The William Julius Wilson Institute is in many ways the hub of our national work and our Covid-19 response. | Right now we’re talking about mitigating the risks of school reopenings in addition to a new institute we’re launching at Harlem Children’s Zone. The William Julius Wilson Institute is in many ways the hub of our national work and our Covid-19 response. |
| Updated Aug. 21, 2020 | |
| The latest on how schools are reopening amid the pandemic. | The latest on how schools are reopening amid the pandemic. |
| After I talk to Geoff I’ll have a conversation with Jazmine Lewis, who’s our managing director. We’ll go through strategy, then I’ll send out emails to other staff. I try to be in continuous contact so they’ll know our latest and greatest reopening strategies. | After I talk to Geoff I’ll have a conversation with Jazmine Lewis, who’s our managing director. We’ll go through strategy, then I’ll send out emails to other staff. I try to be in continuous contact so they’ll know our latest and greatest reopening strategies. |
| DRIVE At 4 we get Mikel up from her nap. We either go for a family walk or a drive that can last for two hours. Last Sunday we drove to Brooklyn and did a virtual wave to a friend. Typically we drive around Manhattan to see how empty it is. The ride is scenic, and it’s a way for Mikel to experience us in a different environment. When we get home, we’ll watch “Sesame Street.” | DRIVE At 4 we get Mikel up from her nap. We either go for a family walk or a drive that can last for two hours. Last Sunday we drove to Brooklyn and did a virtual wave to a friend. Typically we drive around Manhattan to see how empty it is. The ride is scenic, and it’s a way for Mikel to experience us in a different environment. When we get home, we’ll watch “Sesame Street.” |
| PREP WORK After Mikel goes to bed, I’m able to get some more work done, like preparing for the TED Talk I just gave on Black mental health or zeroing in on speaking engagements I have in the coming week. | PREP WORK After Mikel goes to bed, I’m able to get some more work done, like preparing for the TED Talk I just gave on Black mental health or zeroing in on speaking engagements I have in the coming week. |
| SHOWTIME My wife and I pick our favorite meal from Jennie’s Kitchen and have that Sunday nights. It’s been a lifesaver during quarantine. Then we’ll watch “The Chi” on Showtime and, if she puts peer pressure on me, another show, like “Billions.” At about 11, I’ll get the trash together, put it outside and say good night. | SHOWTIME My wife and I pick our favorite meal from Jennie’s Kitchen and have that Sunday nights. It’s been a lifesaver during quarantine. Then we’ll watch “The Chi” on Showtime and, if she puts peer pressure on me, another show, like “Billions.” At about 11, I’ll get the trash together, put it outside and say good night. |
| Sunday Routine readers can follow Kwame Owusu-Kesse on Twitter @MrKwameOK. | Sunday Routine readers can follow Kwame Owusu-Kesse on Twitter @MrKwameOK. |