In 2005, a total of 27 non-profit and county agencies—local, state and federal government representatives, community members, and foundations—joined forces to become the Building Blocks for Kids (BBK) Collaborative. As a place-based collaborative, BBK has focused on the children who attend Peres Elementary School and their families in the northern sector of the Iron Triangle. With the Harlem Children’s Zone (HCZ) as its model, BBK is committed to doing whatever is needed to reverse the present reality of poor health, low academic achievement, violence and crime, and persistent poverty for the children in the BBK “zone.”

Based on HCZ’s philosophy of “touching” the children early, often and throughout their childhood, BBK:

• Implements multiple strategies and activities that rely on best practices.
  
  
• Leverages and links the strengths of BBK Collaborative agencies and the community.