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Inspired by President Obama’s Fatherhood & Mentoring Initiative, seven-time NBA All-Star Dwyane Wade hosted a Responsible Fatherhood Roundtable discussion and recognition ceremony with a group of individuals who exemplify the goals of the President’s initiative. While I was encouraged by Dwayne’s remarks, I was also impacted by the local individuals who joined us at this meeting that exemplify and promote responsible fatherhood.
Photo, Front Row from Left to Right: Sean Forehand (Manager, Orange County LINOS Program), Eugene Schneeberg (Director, DOJ Center for Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnerships), Dwyane Wade, and Joshua DuBois (Special Advisor to the President and Executive Director of the White House Office of Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnerships)
- Bryan Nelson, coordinator of the Boot Camp for New Dads program in Orlando, uses his passion everyday to teach new dads the importance of their participation and leadership.
- Anthony “Tony” Washington is a retired U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer, a dad, grandfather and a mentor.
- Anselmo Nieves, a compassionate dad dedicated to balancing work and spending time with all three of his sons including his youngest, who was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy as an infant.
- Larry Darnell Robinson, a dad who was raised in foster care and group homes himself, is now the proud father of a beautiful four year-old daughter whose story demonstrates how people can overcome tremendous obstacles and still be a great fathers.
- Dexter Nelson, a hands-on single father of three children, serves as the Fatherhood Ambassador for the Pine Hills Head Start program.
- Jim Werner, founder of Circle Christian School, has a passion for families and challenges parents and students to understand that education must go beyond academic accomplishment, encouraging his students to develop skills that focus on relationships, character, and full engagement with life.
- Karen Wint, who has been a foster parent to roughly 40 children, works with her local Boy Scouts pack to engage more fathers in activities because she recognizes the value of positive male role models.
- Raheem Sharpe, a hard working teen father to his son, benefits from having a mentor who can help him navigate the challenges of being a young father.
- Sean Forehand, Sr., manages the Low Income Non-custodial parent Outreach Service (LINOS) for the Dept. of Child Support Enforcement, where he focuses on outreach and education assisting soon-to-be and recently released fathers to get the tools they need to successfully support their families financially and emotionally.
- Rev. Jose Elias Gonzalez & his wife Jackie have been specializing in Family and Youth Ministry for over 20 years. Pastor Gonzalez emphasizes the important role that men and fathers play in their communities. He is the founder of PROTÉGÉ INC. a non-profit organization focused on mentoring and equipping the next generation with life skills.
Through each of their stories, it was amazing to highlight positive examples of the impact being made to turn the tide on father absence in our local communities.
Eugene Schneeberg is the Director of the Center for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships at the Department of Justice.
Recently, I had a chance to sit down with seven time NBA All-Star Dwyane Wade, to talk about how he is, in his own words, a “father First.” Through the event, Dwyane had an opportunity to share why fatherhood is so important to him. His remarks were made to a room of individuals in Orlando who exemplify the principles outlined by President Obama in his Fatherhood and Mentoring Initiative and highlighted in this event by Dwyane Wade: that fatherhood is and has to be a priority for everyone in our communities. From Bryan Nelson with the Boot Camp for New Dads program to Sean Forehand, Sr. from the local Child Support Office who has given over 400 in-person presentations to fathers throughout the Central Florida area, everyone who gathered were all stars for the work they are doing to strengthen fatherhood in Orlando. See more of these All Stars in the video below and hear directly from Dwyane how he makes fatherhood a priority.
Watch Dwyane Wade speak about being a “Father First.”
Joshua DuBois is Special Assistant to President Obama and Executive Director of the White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships
Along with over 500 fathers and children, my children and I recently had the privilege of attending the All Pro Dad’s Baltimore All Pro Dad Father and Kids Experience at M&T Bank Stadium. At the event, Super Bowl Champion Matt Stover spoke very personally about the importance of being a father. My kids enjoyed plenty of fun games and getting their faces painted by clowns who made them balloon animals. I was profoundly touched by the activities centered on practical fatherhood tips and techniques. Through a variety of different football drills, games, and “fatherhood stations,” I was excited to be able to connect with my children in a new way.
Matt Stover, former Baltimore Raven Placekicker along with Eugene Schneeberg, Director of the Center for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships at the Department of Justice with his daughter Genesis and son Eugene .
One of the “fatherhood stations” focused on the importance of Dad’s telling their children that they love them and that they are proud of them. At another station we practiced handing the ball off to each other and scoring a touchdown. After the touchdown, we celebrated by doing a silly dance and giving each other big hugs like NFL players do when they score a touchdown. The facilitator at that station stressed the importance of having fun, being affectionate and hugging your children.
My favorite station was when we were asked to come up with a secret hand sign like those between a quarterback and coach that only my children and I would know. Then, we used that signal to tell each other “I love you.” My six year old son jumped right to it and came up with a great sign. My family and I continue to do our special secret hand signal to this day.
My fathering skills went to another level that day! All Pro Dad is one of many great Fatherhood organizations whose work is right in line with the President’s Fatherhood & Mentoring Initiative.
For more information about All Pro Dad visit: www.AllProDad.com
Eugene Schneeberg is the Director of the Center for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships at the Department of Justice.
Fathers, uncles, male mentors, grandfathers, brothers, and community leaders recently gathered at the Café at Chicago Vocational Career Academy in Chicago, IL to share what men can do to increase their involvement and support in the lives of their children—especially their education.
The Department of Education (ED) was honored to sponsor the event alongside other federal agencies such as the Department of Health and Human Services as well as father serving organizations such as Black Star Project, Watch D.O.G.S., the Illinois Fatherhood Initiative and Real Men Charities.
Participants at the Roundtable, Café at Chicago Vocational Career Academy in Chicago, IL
Approximately 45 men attended from multiple ethnic and cultural backgrounds. A panel of fathers and experts shared their experiences and research that affirmed the positive role of fathers in the lives of their children. Panelist Dexter Chaney, one of ED's Teaching Ambassador Fellows and a Chicago assistant principal, explained a principal's perspective on parental involvement. In his remarks, he linked parental involvement to ED's efforts to motivate parents to be partners in their children's learning. Other panelist included
- Kenith Bergeron, U.S. Department of Justice;
- Norris Stevenson, IL Department of Healthcare and Family Services;
- Elliot Mark, Family Resource Center on Disabilities;
- Walter Jones, Fathers Who Care;
- Kirk Harris, Fathers on Healthy Communities Initiative;
- Carl West, MG Media/Truth B Told News Service; and
- Ian Stroud, Citywide American Indian Education Council.
One young father, in his late teens, said the message should be "taken to the street." He shared his feelings of isolation without a job and family supports. The group challenged this young man to return with his friends to a follow-up meeting. Attendees also challenged each other to go to their neighbors and friends encouraging them to become involved.
As a result of this session, monthly meetings will be held to continue the dialogue. A larger Fathers Forum is scheduled for May 5, 2012 at Odgen School in Chicago, IL.
Shirley Jones serves within the Department of Education Office of Communications and Outreach for the Great Lakes Region.
Addressing fatherhood can play a key role in the addressing youth violence in our communities. This reality was recently front and center at a session of a two day working session of cities participating in the National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention.
Howard Spivak, MD, Director Division of Violence Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Joseph Jones, Jr., President, Center for Urban Families, Pastor Keith Norman, First Baptist Church Broad, Memphis, TN, Wendy Wheeler, President, Innovation Center for Community and Youth Development
In response to this crisis of Youth Violence we are facing, President Obama directed the Departments of Justice and Education to partner with other federal agencies to launch the National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention. This is a six city network dedicated to stopping youth violence in our nation’s cities. The six participating cities— Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Memphis, Salinas, CA and San Jose, CA –have made significant progress toward implementing comprehensive youth violence prevention strategies.
At the two day working session, teams from these cities — including chiefs of police, public-health officials, educators, city officials, community and faith leaders shared the progress they’ve made. This progress has come through the use of evidence-based strategies to prevent youth violence and help formerly incarcerated youth become productive citizens. We recognize that family, including fathers and youth engagement our critical elements to successful youth violence prevention strategies.
In the sessions that titled, “Preventing Youth Violence BEFORE it Starts: Youth, Families, and Faith-Based Partners,” Joe Jones, President of the Center for Urban Families drove home the importance of engaging fathers. In addressing the role that father absence plays in Youth Violence, Joe described his programs efforts to train fathers on how to engage with their children and the mother of their children. Joe shared how the Center for Urban Families works with a number of young dads through the Baltimore Responsible Fatherhood Project.
Pastor Keith Norman also participated sharing his efforts to engage the Faith community around a Memphis’ Comprehensive Youth Violence Prevention plan. Pastor Norman discussed the important role that Faith-based organizations can play in partnering with law enforcement and other groups in order to prevent youth violence and creating opportunity for young people.
Eugene Schneeberg is the Director of the Center for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships at the Department of Justice.
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En respuesta al llamado del presidente Obama para una conversación nacional sobre la paternidad responsable y las familias saludables, aprender cómo usted puede unirse a la Iniciativa Presidencial de Padres y Mentores.