2011 Heritage Awards Dinner
Fathers Incorporated Hosts Annual Dinner to Launch Fatherhood and Mentoring Campaign Inspired by the White House
Event honoree John Amos; Kenneth Braswell, Executive Director and Founder of Fathers Inc.; and Joshua DuBois, Special Assistant to the President and Executive Director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships attend the first annual Heritage Awards Dinner in Harlem, NY hosted by Fathers, Inc. on January 14, 2011.
Organization Readies for 2011 Year of Responsible Men Campaign with Support of Several Urban Cities for National Mentoring Month
New York City, Los Angeles, Albany, Milwaukee and Other Cites Join Effort
On Friday, January 14th at the Alhambra Ballroom in Harlem, New York, Fathers Incorporated hosted its first annual Heritage Awards Dinner that honored five national awardees for their work in the field of responsible fatherhood and mentoring, and officially launched 2011: Year of Responsible Men campaign in partnership with the White House, the NBA, and the Ali Center. The campaign will feature a year-long slate of activities that will encourage responsible fatherhood and mentoring.
The event honorees were John Amos, most recognized for his role as James Evans in the television show, “Good Times,” and Geoffrey Canada, CEO of the Harlem Children’s Zone and subject of the critically acclaimed documentary “Waiting for Superman.” Michelle Drayton, publisher of Today’s Child magazine and J-Will, host of Albany’s “JWill in the Morning” on Jamz 96.3 (Albany) served as the event hosts. The keynote speaker featured Pastor Tre’ Staton of the Empire Christian Center, and special remarks were delivered by Dr. Jeff Gardere, America’s Psychologist and host of VH1’s Dads Camp, and Joshua DuBois, Special Assistant to the President and Executive Director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships.
The 2011: Year of Responsible Men campaign will partner with the White House, a network of private and public grass-roots organizations, corporate partners and a high profile honorary board. Several major U.S. cities have joined in support of the campaign.
Terrence Ray, Director of Milwaukee Fatherhood Initiative; John Amos, Actor & Humanitarian; Carey Casey, CEO of National Center for Fathering; Kenneth Braswell, Founder & Executive Director of Fathers Incorporated; Joshua DuBois, Special Assistant to the President and Executive Director, White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships; (back) Robert D. Johnson, Founder and CEO of Celebrate Dads; Jerry Tello, internationally recognized authority in family strengthening, therapeutic healing, cross cultural issues and motivational speaking; and Dr. Jeff Gardere, America’s Psychiatrist & Host of VH1’s Dads Camp.
“Fatherlessness is an epidemic, and we know for many children both young and old that the effect of its pain runs deep. In America today, more than 24 million children are unable to call their father’s name in the next room,” says Kenneth Braswell, Executive Director of Fathers Incorporated. “That is why Fathers Incorporated was formed. We are committed to make a difference and get fathers more involved in their children’s lives daily, no matter what the circumstances. As responsible fathers, this is our mission.”
The campaign will include the efforts of national organizations and cities, including Mentoring USA. “For over two decades, the goal of Mentoring USA has been to encourage vulnerable youth to stay in school by providing a trained mentor, one-to-one, with sufficient resources to ensure a productive lifestyle and a hopeful outlook. Our annual accountability study has confirmed, time and again, the success of our program through our mentees high rates of graduation and progression to college,” says Matilda Cuomo, Founder of Mentoring USA.
“We are proud to join Fathers Incorporated as they promote family mentoring and nurturing, knowing that in doing so, they are creating an environment in which children and their parents can thrive and excel,” stated Mayor Michael Bloomberg via a proclamation.
Fathers Incorporated is Dedicating a Year to Healing the Pain of Fatherlessness
Fathers Incorporated Readies for the 2011: Year of Responsible Men Campaign
Pastor Tre Staton serves as Keynote Speaker for Fathers Incorporated's Annual Dinner
(Albany, NY) — It is quantified that the statistics of father absence are devastating, yet we have only touch the surface of its impact. We know for many children, both young and old the effect of its pain runs deep. In America today more than 24 million children awaked unable to call their father’s name in the next room. And while this present reality is heart-wrenching; the future for many of our children will see many of them attempting to fill a hole in their soul left by an absent father.
“This is a pain I’ve suffered and one I placed upon my now 30 year old daughter. It is a pain I vowed to heal and to help other fathers never make the same mistake by placing that burden on their children,” says Kenneth Braswell, Executive Director of Fathers Incorporated (FI).
Although this issue of fatherlessness is affecting all communities, its impact is in no place more devastating than in African American families. A recent report notes that seventy-three percent of all Black babies born, will be so out-of-wedlock. Further research shows that many of these children will spend a significant amount of their lives absent their fathers. “All is not well–and no one ever thinks to frame the issue for the young person without their daddy. No one tells them that In fact, they harbor an emptiness inside that they don’t know how to explain,” says Terrie Williams , author of Black Pain: It Just Looks Like We’re Not Hurting–and co-founder of The Stay Strong Foundation.
Fathers Incorporated has been providing capacity building, training and consultation for over eight years. It’s original goal was to find ways to strengthen and encourage fathers to be better protectors and providers. Today, Fathers Inc. has taken a on a new approach and direction.
In partnership with the White House, Honorary Board and Community Partners, FI has launched a strategic marketing initiative to proclaim 2011: The Year of Responsible Men. Throughout the year FI will use its “Ties Never Broken” project to educate and elevate the conversation of responsible fatherhood and mentoring. “In January we will launch the Year of Responsible Men by unveiling the icon to symbolize the importance of Responsible Men in the lives of their children, family and communities,” says Braswell.
Kenneth Braswell and wife, Tracy
Such marketing strategies have been successful in the past, including the Susan B. Komen Pink Ribbon and others social issues. The “Ties Never Broken” project will draw strength from these successful campaigns, but stop short at comparing social ills. Braswell says, “FI only seeks to challenge our society to look at fatherlessness as an issue having a grave effect on our children.”
The second important issue within the campaign is the need to bring attention to the overwhelming need for mentors. With hundreds of thousands of children without mentors, agencies continue to struggle with providing successful matches for parents seeking guidance and assistance by way of mentorship. “The time to act is now. The best way to show that we are actively listening to our children’s call for help is to respond by being present in their lives, to simply guide them. Years from now we will either celebrate the fact that we stepped up and became mentors, or our communities will continue to suffer, well into the future, for ignoring this national crisis,” say Stephen Powell; Executive Director of Mentoring USA.
The 2011: Year of Responsible Men campaign has caught the attention of several influential people concerned about the future of our children, to include: Chris Broussard, Allan Houston, Iyanla Vanzant, Dr. Jeff Gardere, George Fraser, Ed Gordon, John Amos, Judge Mablean Ephriam and Joshua DuBois (Special Assistant to President Obama; White House) to name a few. Locally, Mayor Jennings has presented FI with a proclamation for the 2011 campaign and several local organizations are partners.
“I am involved in the “2011: Year of Responsible Men” campaign because when it comes to raising children, respecting women and serving God, too many men are shirking their responsibilities. I want to be part of a movement that’s going to help me and other men be more responsible in these and other areas,” say Chris Broussard, sports analyst for ESPN.
Our families and communities are in crisis on so many fronts, particularly in the areas of education and economic security, and in dire need of transformational leadership from all concerned citizens. It is especially important that this clarion call for transformational leadership be first heard and then responded to by men from all walks of life in order for our families and communities to rise about our crisis,” says Shawn Dove, Campaign Manager; Open Society Foundations Campaign for Black Male Achievement.