FI On The Go
White House, NBA Star; Kenny Anderson and Rev. Alfonso Wyatt attends Annual Dinner
Ron Williams, Kenneth Braswell, Alan Farrell and Alex Brown
Fathers Incorporated Host Fatherhood Image Awards
January 25th (BROOKLYN, NEW YORK) Fathers Incorporated held its Annual Dinner at Medgar Evers College on January 25th Each year the organization recognizes individuals who play critical roles in the field of responsible fatherhood and mentoring. “We are excited to honor this year’s awardees. This issue of fatherlessness is having a profound effect on the outcomes of our children. Our honorees work is vital in addressing this issue and contributing to the healthy development of families and communities,” says Kenneth Braswell, Executive Director of Fathers Incorporated.
The 2011 Fatherhood Image award honorees included Stephen Powell (Mentoring USA), Allan Houston (Father Knows Best), David Miller (Raising Him Alone), Rev. Dr. Emma Jordan-Simpson (Children’s Defense Fund-New York), Shawn Dove (Open Society Foundations) and Chris Broussard and Malik Carey (K.I.N.G.).
Fathers Incorporated Director spoke about the work for 2012, “we are seeking to continue our international collaborative and comprehensive marketing strategy to promote responsible fatherhood and mentoring particularly in urban communities. In concert we will all find ways through our respective work to promote a message of responsible fatherhood and mentoring.” Fathers Incorporated will highlight it two campaigns; TIES NEVER BROKEN (blue bow tie) and weMentor!
Toya Beasley of New York City’s KissFM served as the event host. The evening included remarks were given by Eugene Schneeburg; Director for the Justice Department Center for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships who congratulated Fathers Incorporated on becoming the contractor for the National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse. Former NBA All-Star Kenny Anderson also came to show his support for the agency’s efforts. The night concluded with a keynote address from Rev. Alfonso Wyatt of the Greater Allen Cathedral in Queens, New York.
When The Tear Won’t Fall
Getting Beyond the Epidemic of Fatherlessness; Book Highlights the Struggle on Both Sides of Fatherlessness
“These are sage words. Besides a popular audience, which it will surely attract, it should be read by researchers, practitioners, policy makers and agency or program administrators who work with low-income families and children.” — Dr. Ronald B. Mincy; Maurice V. Russell Professor of Social Policy and Social Work|Columbia University School of Social Work
(New York) – Most recently the words of “fatherhood” have been echoed from the seat of the presidency to the struggling homes of children who find themselves being raised in today’s society without the influence of a positive, contributing and responsible father. “When The Tear Won’t Fall,” One Man’s Journey through the Intimate Struggles of Manhood and Fatherhood makes an attempt at taking its readers along the continuum of being raised fatherless. Today over 24 Million children woke up without their biological fathers in the home, and most of them will live out the rest of their lives spending very little time with them, or never knowing them at all.
Who should read this book: Fathers who arent in their childrens lives, fathers fighting for custody of their children, men who have lost their way, single moms raising boys, parents at the end of their rope, anyone who has or is battling depression or contempleted suicide, anyone who has lost their way, anyone who struggls to find themselves, women who want to see into the mind of a man and ANYONE who cares about the future of our children.
Alicia Crowe; author of REAL DADS STAND UP! quotes “in When The Tear Won’t Fall, Braswell delivers an awesomely inspiring yet courageous personal truth with such emotional honesty that is rare, relevant and necessary.” This first time author has worked for over 20 years in his community. Through the publishing of his two community newspapers, radio career, organizational development, working with not-for-profits (Urban League of Northeastern New York; W. Haywood Burns Environmental Education Center, Fathers Incorporated; etc.) and his vast volunteer experience, Mr. Braswell finds himself working in a field of work to which his personal life lends an overwhelming amount of expertise. Braswell states; “The inter-generational impact of fatherlessness cannot be overstated. Where there has been no father or father figure, most young boys and girls struggle, frequently unsuccessfully, to get a picture of the importance of being good parents themselves.”
Braswell uses his own life’s experience in an attempt to lay out a clearer understanding of what goes on in the minds of young boys who struggle to make decisions, without the critical and valuable input of fathers. Braswell continues to say that “without intervention, this becomes an inter-generational cycle and has devastating results. Studies continually show that children without involved dads are 3 to 4 more times likely to be poor, drop out of school, become a teen parent; use drugs, and go to jail.”
For over 7 years, Braswell has worked in the field of responsible fatherhood where in 2004 he created Fathers Incorporated; a not-for-profit agency charged with the task of exploring the problem of fatherlessness, devising solutions and providing training for organizations seeking to do programmatic work with fathers. The agency is limited in its operations today, because in 2006, Braswell became the Director of the New York State Fatherhood Initiative. Braswell is an emerging and vibrant voice on the frontlines of America’s growing responsible fatherhood movement – a voice whose time has come to be heard!, says Shawn Dove; Manager of the Open Society Institute’s Campaign for Black Male Achievement.
Currently Braswell sits on the National boards of the Father’s and Family Coalition of America and the National Fathers Leaders Group. Locally he serves on the New York Parenting Education Partnership, Hudson Valley Fatherhood Alliance, Real Dads Network and other committees and tasks forces. Braswell; married to beautiful wife Tracy; brings a spirit and passion to the work of Responsible Fatherhood and his experience with his 3 daughters, ages 30, 18, and 11, 2 year old son, and 3 year old nephew has heightened his awareness to the challenges faced by men seeking to establish or maintain parental relationships when there is a relationship separation.
“When The Tear Won’t Fall” spans 47 years of personal struggle for Braswell and his story is the common tale of boys all over the world growing up in single mother households. Sociologically the book speaks to the systematic difficulties of a society that has not embraced the importance of fatherhood, psychologically the book speaks to how we interpret that message, reason with it and then more often engage in inappropriate behaviors. Lastly, biographically it tells one man’s personal journey by exploring the commonality of our boyhood experiences and how those experiences impact our path to manhood and further, fatherhood. “As one who also grew up without his father, I can honestly say that Kenneth Braswell and I are kindred spirits committed to doing the sacred work of connecting fathers to their children-heart to heart,” says Roland Warren; President of the National Fatherhood Initiative.
“When The Tear Won’t Fall” Endorsements
These are sage words. Besides a popular audience, which it will surely attract, it should be read by researchers, practitioners, policy makers and agency or program administrators who work with low-income families and children. Specialists who work with these families and who have benefited from the work of ethnographers and sociologists such as Elijah Anderson, Kathryn Edin, Linda Burton, and Waldo Johnson will gain fresh insights from Mr Braswell’s book as well. Mr. Braswell presents the voice of a young man, who is asking the sensitive and intelligent questions about love and male-female relationships we wish all young men would ask. But because he is embedded in a highly sexualized, African American, young-adult culture, with little guidance, he makes a range of decisions, with the young women he encounters, which regrettably detach nearly 40 percent of all children (and 70 percent of African American children) from the emotional, developmental, and financial support they need from both of their parents. While the main characters in this book experience this same outcome as so many young black men, women, and their first children, it is abundantly clear that in this case, the outcome is by no means the result of the actions of a sexual predator, so often depicted in media, popular, some scholarly accounts of unmarried fathers. This leads the reader to question how accurate and representative is the conventional wisdom about the absent black father. Indeed, I would guess that upwards of 30 percent of African-American men share Mr. Braswell’s fatherhood experience, and through Mr. Braswell book, their voice may be heard for perhaps the first time. Kudos to Mr. Braswell whose important work has something to teach us all.
Dr. Ronald B. Mincy
Maurice V. Russell Professor of Social Policy and Social Work
Columbia University School of Social Work
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Kenneth Braswell is an emerging and vibrant voice on the frontlines of America’s growing responsible fatherhood movement – a voice whose time has come to be heard! “When the Tear Won’t Fall” is a poignant and powerful portrayal of Braswell’s inspiring journey into manhood and up to fatherhood. “When the Tear Won’t Fall” raises the bar for men, fathers and those who love them. Read it and reap!
Shawn Dove
Founder, Proud Poppa Publications and Manager of the Open Society Institute’s Campaign for Black Male Achievement
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Thank you, dear brother Kenneth for showing up–and using your light and your journey to wake us up. This work is necessary.
Terrie M. Williams
Author, Black Pain: It Just Looks Like We’re Not Hurting
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Braswell, a national leader in The Fatherhood Movement, takes the reader from the rough and tumble streets of Brooklyn all the way to Germany and back to the United States. Braswell is able to honestly and skillfully recount his life’s journey and lessons learned from boyhood to manhood and eventually fatherhood. This is a must read for men who are not afraid to take an insightful look in while constantly looking out.
Alfonso Wyatt
Vice President of the City Fund of New York
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Kenneth Braswell’s book, When the Tear Won’t Fall, provides excellent and oftentimes shrewd insight into the question most of us men struggle with, “What is a man?” This thought-provoking book ripples with powerful discernment and understanding about the challenges all men and boys are faced with. It should be required reading for all men—black or white. Masculinity is a human issue, not a race issue and Braswell captures the essence of that topic at its very core. I can’t wait to read his next book.
Rick Johnson
Author of Better Dads Stronger Sons and The Power of a Man
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In “When The Tear Won’t Fall” Braswell delivers an awesomely inspiring yet courageous personal truth with such emotional honesty that is rare, relevant and necessary. He manages to ascend the blame game and take full ownership and responsibility for his role in the success or failure in the relationship with the other parent. This type of evolution is absolutely necessary in order to do this fatherhood/family work.
Alicia Crowe
REAL DADS STAND UP! What Every Single Father Should Know About Child Support, Rights and Custody – Blue Peacock Press
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The one word that sums up Kenneth Braswell’s, “When The Tear Won’t Fall,” is insightful. Not only is this book essential reading for men, it is also an excellent resource for women seeking to better understand men. This book will take you on a journey of introspection and self-reflection inspiring you to delve deeper into your own experiences as a man and as a father. For women who read this book, you’ll come away with a new paradigm for understanding manhood and fatherhood. Read it and be enlightened.
Cassandra Mack, author of, “The Black Man’s Little Book of Encouragement: 68 Pearls of Wisdom To Manifest Your Greatness and Keep Your Head Up When Life Beats You Down”
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Kenny Braswell is a strong and committed voice in the Fatherhood movement. His insights allow all of us to think clearly about the challenges we all face in strengthening African-American families – and his dedication inspires us to take immediate action.
Rachel Vassel, author
Daughters of Men: Portraits of African-American Women and Their Fathers
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Of all the roles that make up my life, the one that means the most to me is being a father. I see fatherhood as a gift that, like with my Dad, will never be taken for granted. Raising my two sons has not only allowed me to teach them to be better individuals, but it has also helped me to improve myself. The standards that I have set for myself are ones that I feel every kid has the right to expect from a parent. I am always happy to talk about, or read anything that will help men to take this issue more seriously. With that being said, I applaud Kenny Braswell for adding his insight and wisdom to the topic. I know Kenny to be intelligent, compassionate and a motivated individual. All these traits are necessary to be a successful role model and community leader but also a wonderful Dad. Way to go, Kenny!
Jerry Craft, author
MAMA’S BOYZ: HOME SCHOOLIN’!
www.mamasboyz.com
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FI Addresses Recruitment during Mentoring Month
Agency to Roll-Out weMentor!tm Campaign on January 25th
Official weMentor January Poster
Mentoring remains to be one of our community’s most critical services. However according to Mentoring USA’s Executive Director; Stephen Powell, the number of available mentors are extremely low. In fact single parents, mostly mothers remain on long waiting lists, waiting to fill the gap in their children’s life left void by an absent father.
“We have been diligent at building the capacity of community agencies to deal with the impact of fatherlessness. Unfortunately the available resources don’t always match the urgent need,” say Kenneth Braswell, Executive Director of Fathers Incorporated. “This issue no more urgent than in the need to recruit African American men into formal mentoring programs.”
In a measure to address the difficult in recruiting Fathers Incorporated is launching its weMentor!tm project. The campaign will address the low number of African American men serving as mentors. The campaign also seeks to raise public awareness, increase recruitment capacity and build national mentoring networks. The weMentor!tm concept embodies the African proverb; “It Takes A Whole Village To Raise A Child” by embellishing the fact that it takes more than “I” to make a difference in the life of a child. Thus the campaign will highlight the need for “ALL” (African American men in particular) men to be accountable for filling the gap of fatherlessness.
David Miller, M.Ed., chief visionary officer and co-founder of the Urban Leadership Institute published Man Up: Recruiting & Retaining African American Male Mentors in 2007. The report has maintained its relevancy even some five years later. “The report highlights the need for a greater commitment to make sure that all children have access to mentors and role models. A great deal of organizations are working on mentoring initiatives yet few are sharing resources and collectively working together to strengthening mentoring efforts,” says Miller. “The report underscores the need for partnerships to tackle tough issues like recruitment and retention among mentoring programs.”
“Imagine this; each state worker in each state in the nation, taking one hour a week to connect with a child, talk with them, support and encourage them. Imagine each parent making sure that their child is exposed to positive men and women by taking them to church, the mosque, temple or other religious institution on Sunday,” says, Greg Owens, Co-director of SUNY Center for the Elimination of Minority Health Disparities Outreach and Engagement. “We have to get back to what has always made sense for us. Interconnectedness and a warriors spirit to make sure that the children are well!”
“We believe that fatherlessness is a driving force in the need to identify, recruit and refer responsible and willing men to volunteer as mentors. weMentor!tm will serve to strengthen mentoring organizations and indentify associated resources for deeper service delivery,” continues Braswell.
Fathers Incorporated and its national partners will engage in a yearlong set of national activities, partnerships and events designed to increase the number of African American male mentors. These activities will be part of the TIES NEVER BROKENtm campaign. weMentor!tm activities will include social marketing and traditional media campaigns, product development, mentorship recruitment drives, website presence of activities, repository of mentorship organizations and creation of a “mentor” referral network. Campaign will launch at Fathers Incorporated’s annual dinner on January 25th.
Campaign Partners
BCDI-Albany * Black Butterfly Inc. * Blackstar Project * Childfind of America * Hot97 | KISSFM * K.I.N.G. * Mamas Boyz * Mentoring USA * National Cares Mentoring Movement * Open Society Foundations * Real Dads Network * Real Men Charities * Real Men Cook * Urban Leadership Institute * Women in Fatherhood
TNB APPEARS IN NEW VIDEO with TRAY CHANEY
Chris Broussard (National Spokesperson) Promotes Campaign to 25 Million Viewers on Christmas Day
Tray "Poot" Chaney and Skip Chaney (father)
January 4, 2012 (NEW YORK) Tray Chaney who appeared on the HBO program The Wire as “Poot Carr” is releasing a highly anticipated video entitled “Fatherhood”. The video directed by Lamar Tyler and produced by Don Cox kicks off the year by promoting the critical importance of responsible fatherhood and mentoring. “I went into this project with the hopes of addressing the challenges of fathers; including myself. It’s important to remember our responsibilities towards our children and ourselves, says Chaney.
The release of the video falls on the heel of the campaign’s National Spokesperson; Chris Broussard wearing the Ties Never Broken pin as he debuted in his new position as a NBA analyst for ESPN. The five NBA games on Christmas averaged 6.2 million viewers based on fast national ratings, up from 6 million last year. The Bulls-Lakers matchup was the third most-watched regular-season game ever on ABC. It was ESPN’s highest-rated Christmas prime-time game. The day’s first contest, Celtics-Knicks on TNT, was the most viewed Christmas game ever on cable. “Chris’s support of the campaign is incredible. His support helps the agency continue to effectively encourage the conversation and raise awareness of the issues and concerns created by fatherlessness,” says Kenneth Braswell; Executive Director of Fathers Incorporated.
Chris Broussard on ABC
The campaign caught the eye of Chaney after he and Braswell spoke together at the Congressional Black Caucus. His excitement in writing the lyrics and producing the video in such a short time was incredible. So much so, he included his own father and son. “Working with my own father and son in the video was one of the greatest gifts I have had in my career. That is something that some young men have not experienced. I want them to know what a blessing it is to have their father and children in their lives and be the example we want them to be as well.” Chaney also is the author of his self-published book entitled The Truth You Can’t be Tray”
The Ties Never Broken campaign has also garnered the support of former New York Knicks forward Allan Houston and Miami Heat’s Dywane Wade (Wades World Foundation). Later this month Fathers Incorporated is preparing to host its annual dinner on January 25th at Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn, New York
For more information contact Fathers Incorporated at 518-227-6161 or fathersincorporated@gmail.com. Fathers Incorporated can be found at www.fathersincorporated.com. Visit Tyler New Media, Inc. at http://www.tylernewmedia.com.
FI Releases End of the Year Highlights for 2011
2011 End of Year Highlights...Click Image to Download
Greetings
As the year nears to its close, we want to first wish you a wonderful and happy Holiday Season. This time of year is often associated with love and giving; it is in that spirit that we reflect on the accomplishments and activities of Fathers Incorporated. This year has seen a significant movement in the responsible fatherhood field. Interest has increased by way of new organizations, event activity, newly created documentaries and media focus. We’ve also saw a surge in cinema and television projects as they have found success in fatherhood themed subjects.
In 2011 we saw a continuing investment from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services of $150 million to address the issue of responsible fatherhood and healthy relationships. In addition federal agencies like –Labor, HUD, Justice and Education– also found ways to incorporate programs that include the multiple concerns of non-custodial parents (mostly fathers). As the field continues to develop we expect to see more agencies from both federal and local governments take up this work. We also expect to see further integration with the disciplines of Mentoring, Black Male Achievement and services to single mothers.
Unfortunately we have also spent a year witnessing increasing unemployment rates, high out of wedlock births, declining educational achievements and diminishing financial resources. This trend is overwhelmingly prevalent in African American communities. So while as an organization we are concern with the state of fatherhood in all communities, we are acutely aware that a greater effort of focus must be made to these families and children.
This completes year one of our 5-year goal to be the #1 Promoter of Responsible Fatherhood and Mentoring in the world. We’ve done what we believe to be a great job at setting the foundation for Fathers Incorporated to quickly become all that we’ve set out to be. Our TIES NEVER BROKEN campaign has served as a great starting point.
We hope that you will take a moment to review our 2011 end-of-the-year Highlight Report. It was designed to give you a glimpse of what we have accomplished in 2011 and to set the stage for a transformative 2012. We also ask that you will find a way to support this necessary work. Fathers Incorporated is changing lives and building healthy families. Please help us to continue by referring our work, promoting our organization, donating or simply providing resources.
If you have any questions or concerns feel free to reach out at 518-250-6601, email us at fathersincorporated@gmail.com. We look forward to seeing you in 2012. Until then have a joyous and blessed Holiday Season.
FI Testifies for NYC Council on Young Men’s Initiative
Why Should You Care About Fatherlessness and Black Male Achievement in New York City Communities?
By Kenneth Braswell
Executive Director of Fathers Incorporated
Testimony before the New York City Council
Oversight: Examining the implementation of the Young Men’s Initiative.
November 2, 2011
Good Afternoon Chairs Recchia and Fidler and members of the Finance and Youth Services committees. I am Kenneth Braswell, Executive Director of Fathers Incorporated. On behalf of; our board, volunteers, partners and constituents, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts in allowing us to speak to you with regards to our support of the Young Men’s Initiative.
We were elated to hear about the private-public partnership between Mayor Bloomberg and George Soros of the Open Society Foundation’s Campaign for Black Male Achievement as well as the overall investment of $127 Million in Educational, Employment, Justice and Health Initiatives specifically targeting Black and Latino Males. It was also a pleasure being one of the experts involved in the early planning of this initiative. It’s awesome for me to be a part of making a difference in my hometown.
As someone who was born and raised in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, attended New York City Public Schools and lived most of my young life in a one bedroom apartment with my single mom, brother, sister and dog; I can appreciate the promise that this investment can have on the men of New York City. Many of which are growing up in the same communities that impacted and developed my growth as a black boy growing up in a fatherless home and more importantly a fatherless community.
Fathers Incorporated (FI), a not-for-profit organization, serves as a leader in the promotion of Responsible Fatherhood and Mentoring. This International, national, and local focus raises the awareness about, and combats the impact of father absence. Currently we are in the midst of a 5-year cause marketing campaign entitled “Ties Never Broken.” The term speaks to the all too real connection between a child and their biological father. Estranged, deployed, deceased or otherwise, there is a tie/connection that is never broken between parents and their children. We believe that the symbol of a blue bowtie expresses this reality. Recently we announced ESPN Analyst Chris Broussard as our National Spokesperson; and you can see him daily donning the Ties Never Broken lapel pin. We were also pleased to see New York Knicks Executive Allan Houston, wearing the TNB lapel pin in this week’s Hip Hop Weekly magazine. We appreciate champions of the work.
The stories are compelling; the outcomes are heart wrenching, the statistics are unconscionable, the impact is absolutely devastating and the emotions are painfully unbearable. It is a silent killer and destroyer of children, families and community. We stop short of calling it an epidemic, yet its presence can be found prevailing in any African American community in the United States. It is absent from community dialogue, rarely heard in sermons, missing in academia, non-existence in community solutions and though to be irrelevant in comprehensive family planning paradigms. It is the source of almost every negative social ill our children face today; yet the very mention of the term repels the brightest of minds and the most liberal and conservative of hearts. Fatherlessness!
Imagine for a moment if Fatherlessness was a disease. How compelling would the statistic be that 73% of Black babies born in America today are birthed into out-of-wedlock households? Let me be clear that being born into a non-married home doesn’t mean you are fatherless. However lets also be clear that research says many of them will spend a significant portion of their lives absent their biological fathers and after five-years-old are more than likely not to see him at all. Would that matter to you?
What would be your reaction to the disease of fatherlessness be if you knew that 63% of youth who commit suicide are from fatherless homes? Would we debate it is a disease? Or maybe it’s just a condition that impairs normal functioning and is typically manifested by distinguishing signs and symptoms? Call it what you want, it doesn’t change the impact on children. How about this? Is it compelling to know that 70% of juveniles in state-operated institutions come from fatherless homes? Would it matter to you to know that it’s not lack of desire that keep most fathers from their children, particularly low income black fathers? Hard to hear but, true!
In 1965 Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan published a report entitled: The Negro Family: The Case For National Action. The report later became known as the Moynihan Report. By most accounts, it is probably the most poignant collection of statistical analysis, combined with social commentary in the last 45 years; not because of what it revealed, but because of how close it has come to the truth.
In the report, Senator Moynihan described the state of African American families. His point of view took great measure to frame the argument with the realities of current events; to include the civil rights movement, racism and poverty. In President Lyndon B. Johnson’s 1965 State of the Union message he said, “For a century we labored to establish a unity of purpose and interest among the many groups which make up the American Community. That struggle has often brought pain and violence. It is not yet over”. It was a turbulent time in 1965 filled with diverging, often conflicting and contradicting thought on what America should do about the Negro (African American).
The Moynihan report said it another way; “Being Americans (negroes), they will now expect that in the near future equal opportunities for them as a group will produce roughly equal results, as compared with other groups. This is not going to happen. Nor will it happen for generations to come unless a new and special effort is made.”
Many things did not change; one significant event did. In 2009, America elected its first African American President, Barack Obama. As a result, many have raised the question whether or not that is the change needed to combat the future the Moynihan Report predicted. Maybe not, but it is at least an indication that for social change — anything is possible.
In 2011, we are still grappling with the daunting statistics of 1965. For instance, in 1963 out-of-wedlock births for African Americans stood at 23.6 percent; nearly one quarter of all black births. Fast forward forty five years and we find that as stated before, over 70 percent of all births to Black women are to unmarried women.
For the past 45 years these statistics have driven us to provide services and support for mothers and their children. As an unconscious (some may say, conscience result), the father has been invisible in both the cause and the solution.
The tragedy of black men/boys today is that society seems not to really care what we think. Further and more arresting, is the fact that it also stop short of taking into account what we have to say either. I watched with great interest and focus; Tavis Smiley’s “Too Important to Fail,” show on PBS about the education of young black men. The special report did a great job in allowing the narrative to be told through the voices of today’s youth experience. I often find myself when watching shows like this caught up in the repetition of the problem and wrapped up in mounts of statistics, research and implied assumptions. Tonight was no different until I began to hear the issues made plain by the young black men who were not talking from what they may have read, heard or captured on TV. These young men are living testimonies of the social ills plaguing the very existence of black men and families in urban communities across the nation.
Voice after voice screamed the raging spirit trapped in the hearts of black boys seeking a place of safety and comfort. Far reaching is their search for identity. Further and more so out of their reach is the answer. Unfortunately, for many of our boys they find their comfort and answers in the arms of young black girls or in the negative influence of their peers. New York City’s young black male population is stumbling under staggering unemployment rates. Some reports like Dr. Mincy’ Black Males: Left Behind notes that In 2000, 65 percent of black male high school dropouts in their 20′s were jobless — that is, unable to find work, not seeking it or incarcerated. By 2004, the share had grown to 72 percent, compared with 34 percent of white and 19 percent of Hispanic dropouts. Even when high school graduates were included, half of black men in their 20′s were jobless in 2004, up from 46 percent in 2000. These facts also written in the 2006, New York Times article Plight Deepens for Black Men, Studies Warn by Eric Eckholm. This is a hard hitting reality; but as Brooklyn hip-hop legend Biggie Smalls stated so eloquently, “it’s real in the field.”
I happen to be one of the fortunate black males to emerge from the struggles of growing up in a low income, single family home; many don’t return home healthy, fulfilled and able to contribute. The reality of that life still resonates in my soul everything I visit my daughter in the same building I grew up in and in the East New York projects where my mother still resides today, knowing that most of my childhood friends are dead or locked up. If not for the grace of a caring mother and the men of St. Anthony Baptist Church I might not be sitting here before you today.
If we are to impact the force of fatherlessness; Mentoring must also be at the center point of the solution. In January 2012, Fathers Incorporated will launch our weMentor!tm campaign. The weMentor! concept embodies the african proverb; “It Takes A Whole Village To Raise A Child” by embellishing the fact that it takes more than “I” to make a difference in the life of a child. Thus the campaign will highlight the need for “ALL” (African American men in particular) men to be accountable for filling the gap of fatherlessness.
As part of the weMentor, we’ll engage in a yearlong set of national activities, partnerships and events designed to increase the number of African American male mentors. These activities will be part of the TIES NEVER BROKENtm campaign. weMentor! activities will include social marketing and traditional media campaigns, product development, mentorship recruitment drives, website presence of activities, repository of mentorship organizations and creation of a “mentor” referral network. Certainly there is a critical rolls for YMI to play in this endeavor.
We understand that while fatherlessness is a social ill we must attack; New York City also has a wealth of able bodied men who can be encouraged to step-up to the plate to serve as mentors to thousands of children on mentoring waiting list across the city. Our working relationships with mentoring organization like; Mentoring USA, Mentor, The Sledge Group and others; fatherhood organizations like SEEDCO, Youth-at-Risk, Forestdale, Real Dads Network, can be networked in a way that can serve YMI in this capacity.
Everybody has an individual horror story to tell about child support, baby mama/baby daddy drama, racism, courts, lawyers, social services, family members, system; etc. They all might have some measure of truth and reality in your parental situation. However at the end of the day, none of that will matter to your child. The question is, when asked by your child “what did you do to stay in my life or what did you do to keep my father out of my life?” you better have a better answer than your personal horror story. For whatever reason the father is not active or for whatever reason the mother is serving as an obstacle for access; real or unreal, legit or not, fair or not, reasonable or not; this work must work toward creating safe environments for healthy and safe family development.
The statistics don’t lie and the reality of fatherlessness is real; especially for black families. Scores of organizations around the country are working to address the issue of responsible fatherhood. Yet the resources are few and the appeal of the cause, even less.
The debate can be endless if we find ourselves marred in conversation over the validity of research, reports and statistics. There are advocates and detractors of every piece of research, policy, legislation, intention, assumption, opinion, practice, program, idea and dream realized to-date on black boys. Yet, the situation gets worse.
Often we celebrated minor reductions in statistics as if, we have solved the problems of black boys; and in its extreme, and we even convince ourselves that the problem doesn’t exist any longer.
I want to close my testimony by stating that for Fathers Incorporated, this is unfinished business that must be completed. The reality of the urgency is locked in my own struggles with the fact that I’m a black man raising black boys. A reality made clear to me every time I hear the struggle and experiences of black boys whose voices are minimized by the trivial priority to which society value them. It is further realized for me every time I look into the eyes of my 2 ½ year old son, 4 year old nephew, my church full of young black boys and a community of young black and Latino boys dotting the cornering of every borough in this city; Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, Bronx and Staten Island. All of which will be impacted by the work we do moving forward.
When I started Fathers Incorporated in 2004 and began to move around the country working to build the capacity of agencies seeking to do this work; I never knew that it would bring me right back home to New York where I would be hired by Commissioner Robert Doar at NYS OTDA — that relationship would lead to my working relationships with Frances Pardus-Abbadessa, Deputy Commissioner of the NYC HRA Office of Child Support Enforcement, Cindy Colter; Assistant Commissioner at DYCD and a host of other individuals and agencies. We have done incredible work and I am proud to be a part of New York City’s effort to address the issues, concerns and solutions for Black and Latino males.
As the title of Tavis’s show stated, “Too Important to Fail,” should be the overarching mantra of communities devastated by the impact of fatherlessness, poverty, crime and resource neglect. Somebody has to care enough about black boys and girls to do something other than debate and challenge those who are doing something in the way saving our communities.
We must do better! We believe that this Initiative for Black and Latino boys and men of New York City is a GREAT start.
“We are the leaders, we’ve been waiting for.”
Thank You.
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Testimony Given by Kenneth Braswell
Wednesday, November 2nd at 1pm
to the New York City Common Council
ULI & FI Launches Power Down Campaign
Campaign Urgues Parents to Monitor the Over usage of Technology for Children
(Baltimore, Md.) Today, the Raising Him Alone Campaign and Urban Leadership are officially launching the Power Down Campaign! Power Down is a campaign focused on teaching parents strategies and coaching them to become better monitors of the technology used by their children. Parents who closely monitor and limit the time their child/teen spends playing video games, watching TV and surfing the Internet increase the likelihood that their child/teen will spend more time engaged in socially redeeming activities. Those activities will likely include arts and crafts, homework and other educational exercises.
According to Kenneth Braswell, CEO of Father’s Incorporated, “”Our children are spending an increasing amount of time consuming information through forms of technology without adult supervision. If for no other reason; the Power Down campaign can be used as a gauge to expose how adults and their children are affected by the use of social and traditional media.”
With the rapidly increasing popularity of reality television, millions of children and teens are exposed daily to a new brand of television that highlights a variety of anti-social behaviors including fighting, excessive cursing, drug use, underage drinking and sexually illicit escapades. While some reality shows promote real competition and chances to win everything from recording contracts to chef positions at exclusive restaurants, the majority of them distort images of healthy lifestyles. A few negative examples include “Jersey Shore,” “Teen Moms,” “16 and Pregnant,” “Bad Girls” and “Intervention”. And let’s not forget long-running cable networks like HBO, BET, MTV and VH1 that continue airing raunchy music videos and less-than-questionable sitcoms.
The Power Down Campaign, through its Parents’ Responsible Media Guide developed by David Miller, co-founder of Urban Leadership Institute, is asking families to participate in a “Technology Fast”. The goal of the “Technology Fast” is to get parents to turn off the TV and not allow their children to participate in technology over the weekend. In other words, during the “Technology Fast” parents should not allow their children to surf the Internet, use their cell phones, watch television, play video games, send text messages or engage in social media including Facebook and Twitter. Within the Parents Guide are suggested activities to help parents plan a technology-free weekend. Parents, the “Technology Fast” is not intended to punish your children or force them to have a boring weekend. Instead, it’s designed to bring your family together while supporting you as you encourage your children to do without technology for a weekend while your family participates in fun, educational activities.
Officials of Raising Him Alone, Urban Leadership Institute & Father’s Incorporated ask parents to support our effort by participating in a “Technology Fast” during the following four weekends:
November 4-6, 2011
March 2-4, 2012
June 1-3, 2012
September 7-9, 2012
For more information on the Power Down Campaign, please visit us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?id=506411249&story_fbid=10150340527471250#!/pages/Power-Down-Technology-Fast/271325816222244?sk=wall
To download information about the Power Down Campaign, please visit www.raisinghimalone.com/powerdown or www.urbanleadershipinstitute.com/powerdown
FI PARTNER IN NATIONAL MENTORING SUMMIT
Kenneth Braswell presenting young men at Green Tech Charter school in the "TIES NEVER BROKEN" Ceremony
October 27, 2011 (ALBANY, NEW YORK): FATHERS INCORPORATED joins major, national youth serving organizations in the second annual National Mentoring Summit to be held at The Fairmont in Washington, D.C., January 24 and 25, 2012. The Summit will bring together influential mentoring stakeholders from the public and private sectors to chart the mentoring field’s future, expand its circle of influence and focus the power of mentoring on a set of measurable outcomes.
The Summit will be hosted by MENTOR, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, the Corporation for National and Community Service, the U.S. Department of Justice – Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the Harvard School of Public Health and United Way Worldwide, along with nearly 20 partner organizations. The two-day conference will bring together America’s foremost mentoring researchers, benefactors, policy makers and mentoring practitioners for workshops and information sharing.
The event also will provide the culminating moment for the 11th anniversary of National Mentoring Month, which is the national media campaign to raise awareness about mentoring produced by the Harvard School of Public Health, MENTOR and the Corporation for National and Community Service. Thousands of programs in all 50 states participate in National Mentoring Month events.
“We are excited to be a part of 2012 National Mentoring Summit and it fits perfectly in our goal to explore ways to activate a synergy between the field of mentoring and responsible fatherhood. This partnership and collaboration of both fields can serve as a critical and timely solution to the millions of children in need of a mentor and the 24 million children awakening each morning absent their biological father,” says Kenneth Braswell, Executive Director of Fathers Incorporated.
The theme for this summit, “Invest in the Future: Mentor a Child” will coincide with the emphasis the United States is placing on corporations getting more engaged in mentoring America’s children. It is a reflection of the importance of First Lady Michelle Obama’s original call to action at the inaugural Summit via the Corporate Mentoring Challenge. The Corporate Mentoring Challenge is an initiative led by the Corporation for National and Community Service to encourage U.S. companies to launch mentoring programs, expand existing employee mentoring programs or provide resources to support local mentoring programs that help youth gain leadership skills, achieve their educational goals and increase their confidence.
Fathers Incorporated joins other Summit Partners, such as 100 Black Men of America, America’s Promise Alliance, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, the Center for Interdisciplinary Mentoring at Portland State University, City Year, College Success Foundation, Communities In Schools, Concerned Black Men – National Organization, Dare Mighty Things, Inc., Mentoring USA, National Alliance of Faith and Justice, National Association of Foster Grandparents, National CARES Mentoring Movement, National Collaboration for Youth, National Dropout Prevention Center, and Point of Light Institute/HandsOn.
In addition, Congressional mentoring champions who have signed on to date as Honorary Host Committee members are: Rep. Hansen Clarke (D-MI),Sen. John Conyers (D-MI), Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD), Rep. Susan Davis (D-CA), Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Sen. John Kerry (D-MA), Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA), Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN), Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski (D-MD), Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R- AK), Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA) .
“More than 20 years ago, MENTOR was created as a catalyst to grow the mentoring movement in the United States, and today, mentoring is a large and vital field with more than 5,000 programs serving three million young people,” said MENTOR’s Chairman, Willem Kooyker. “This National Mentoring Summit will give mentoring stakeholders the opportunity to come together so we can continue our combined effort to invest, through quality mentoring, in the 15 million children who are still waiting for a caring adult in their lives.”
Summit participants will include representatives invited from MENTOR’s network of affiliated Mentoring Partnerships and from Host Committee and Summit Partner networks, as well as local National Mentoring Month partners.
For more information, contact MENTOR at summit@mentoring.org.
National Strategic Summits for Black Male Achievement
l to r: Greg Owens (Macedonia Men's Ministry), Kenneth Braswell (Fathers Incorporated) and Phillip Jackson (BlackStar Project) at Rumble Young Man Rumble Retreat at Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville
Fathers Incorporated and The Black Star Project Help Coordinate 25 Cities to Improve the Plight of Black Males in America
Under the inspiration of Muhammad Ali’s “float like a butterfly, sting like a bee; Rumble Young Man Rumble” rallying cry, major urban cities will strategize to address issues of Black Male achievement in their own communities on November 12th. “We spend an awful amount of time laboring over the sobering and tragic statistics facing black males,” says Kenneth Braswell, Executive Director of Fathers Incorporated. “As black men, we are way overdue to do something about it and to stop just talking about and waiting for someone to rescue us.”
“We are the leaders, we’ve been waiting for,” says Shawn Dove, Campaign Manager for the Campaign for Black Male Achievement at the Open Society Foundations. Major urban cities across the nation are far from claiming victory for Black Male achievement. Double digit unemployment rates, incarceration, health disparities, low educational obtainment figures and violence are just a short list of items yet to be addressed for this population of men. Even as America’s frustration with the economics of our country continue to bubble under, movements like the Tea Party, Occupy Wall Street and other activities to address poverty are still leaving black males behind.
In Louisville, Kentucky last month the Open Society Foundations hosted over 75 leaders from around the country who gathered to address how they would mobilize efforts using the spirit of the Muhammad Ali center and his legacy of principles. Muhammad Ali was quoted to say, “Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they’ve been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It’s an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It’s a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing.” It is that sentiment that has inspired this recent urgency of work.
“Much of why this work is so critical can be seen right here in Chicago where more Black children died in Chicago from gunfire in 2008 than Chicago soldiers died in Iraq,” says Phillip Jackson, President of The Black Star Project. In addition to high levels of violence, 50 % of all Black men between the ages of 16 and 64 years old are jobless. “These numbers are devastating our families and destroying our communities; and not unique to just Chicago,” continues Jackson.
In addition to the day of planning; there will be a 10-city role call via video conference to introduce, share information and explore solutions with the 25 men from each city. Afterward a report will be compiled in order to capsulate strategies that will address the multi issues facing the nations Black Males. THE FOLLOWING CITES HAVE
Kenneth Braswell (Planning Committee Chair) speaks to participants at reception of RYMR Retreat
SIGNED ON SO FAR: 1) Albany, New York, 2) Atlanta, Georgia, 3) Baltimore, Maryland, 4) Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 5) Chicago, Illinois, 6) Cincinnati, Ohio, 7) Jackson, Mississippi, 
Louisville, Kentucky, 9) Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 10) Newark, New Jersey, 11) New York City, New York, 12) Omaha, Nebraska; 13) Peoria, Illinois; 14) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania & 15) Washington, D.C.
We are encouraging your city to participate in addressing issues affecting Black Males in your community. For information on how your city can be involved in this national campaign and receive a organizing kit; please call 773.285.9600 or email The Black Star Project at blackstar1000@ameritch.net. ON FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/RumbleYMR
FI Honored on Mental Health Awareness Affecting Communities of Color
The Full Circle Life Enrichment Center, a not for profit New York-based center providing counseling support to families and children in need, celebrated its 10th Anniversary last week at NYC’s Chelsea Piers Lighthouse with a Gala entitled, “Sax, Strings, Sonnets and Songs.” The Center’s mission is to eliminate barriers such as stigma, shame and fear associated with mental illness or seeking mental health treatment.
Honorees who received the Center’s “Inspire Award” “in recognition of their powerful decisions to use extraordinary talents, gifts and abilities as unwavering sources of inspiration and hope to hurting children and families worldwide were NY Knick Allan Houston (below) and (left to right): Kenneth Braswell, Executive Director of Father’s Incorporated; Terrie M. Williams, Inspirational Author, Mental Health Advocate, and Founder/President-The Stay Strong Foundation; Dr. Gerald Landsberg, Professor/Director-Institute Against Violence at the NYU Silver School of Social Work; Darcel Dillard-Suite, MS, Co-founder and COO of the Center; Derek H. Suite, MD, MS, Co-founder and CEO of the Center; Waleska Williams, accepting the award on behalf of her husband, NY Yankees’ Bernie Williams; Linda McGee, an Educator for the Archdiocese of NY; Layon Gray, author of the acclaimed award winning Off-Broadway play, “Angels Over Tuskegee.” Terrie M. Williams accepted the award on behalf of Ntozake Shange, author of “For Colored Girls….” Gospel Artist BeBe Winans and Brandon Marshall of the Miami Dolphins also received the award.
NY Knick Allan Houston (Wearing TIES NEVER BROKEN pin) thanks Full Circle Life Enrichment Center co-founders Darcel Dillard-Suite, MS and Derek H. Suite, MD, MS after receiving the organization’s “Inspire Award.”
PHOTO CREDIT: GERALD PEART