FI On The Go
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
FI TO MANAGE NATIONAL RESPONSIBLE FATHERHOOD CLEARINGHOUSE
President’s Fatherhood and Mentoring Initiative and fatherhood.gov amongst projects
NEW YORK, NY, October 4, 2011– Fathers Incorporated (FI), a national not-for-profit has engaged in responsible fatherhood work on a national and international level since 2004. Recently the organization began a multi-year cause marketing campaign entitled “TIES NEVER BROKEN” to raise the visibility of both Responsible Fatherhood and Mentoring. We are proud to announce that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has awarded Fathers Incorporated $7.4 million (over a 3-year period; contingent on continued funding) to manage the National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse (NRFC).
“This contract award allows FI to continue this critical work and great efforts of the White House, DHHS/OFA, and the National Fatherhood Initiative,” says Kenneth Braswell, Executive Director of Fathers Incorporated. “Our team will approach this body of work by integrating innovative marketing systems to inform and educate families. In this effort we hope for the work to evolve and become a mainstay for America’s fathers, families, and the field,” continues Braswell.
The core of the clearinghouse contract will occur through social marketing and multi-media platforms, traditional communications, and product development. In addition the contract calls for the support of national federally sponsored events, conferences and other activities.
We are excited to continue our support of FI as they meet the challenge from the President to support responsible fatherhood and mentoring,” says Joshua Dubois, Special Assistant to the President and Executive Director of the White House office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. The NRFC will continue to support HHS’ Administration for Children and Families, Office of Family Assistance (OFA) announcement of $119,393,729 in grants awarded to 120 grantees to promote healthy marriage and responsible fatherhood.
Fathers Incorporated is also embarking in several projects in the next few years that include working to inspire the participation of the faith-based community; “Power Down;” a campaign to encourage parents to acknowledge their children’s technology habits; “Rumble Young Man Rumble,” mentorship development strategies at the Muhammad Ali Center and several other activities to highlight the importance of father involvement. FI is working in partnership with ChildFind of America, ICF International, Mathematica Policy Research and BLH Technologies.
For additional information on Fathers Incorporated please visit www.fathersincorporated.com or the National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse at www.fatherhood.gov.
Fathers Incorporated Gears Up to Support Power Down Campaign
Raising Him Alone Campaign looks to reduce children’s dependency on technology and focuses on family time
Today, the Raising Him Alone Campaign, Urban Leadership and Fathers Incorporated 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.
“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 use as a gauge to expose how adults and their children are affected by the use of social and traditional media,” says Kenneth Braswell, Executive Director of Fathers Incorporated.
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
Ties Never Broken Campaign Welcomes The WASHINGTON INFORMER
NEW YORK, NY, September 27, 2011– Inspired by President Obama’s 2010 Father’s Day address, Fathers Incorporated (FI) continues to gain media support for its ‘TIES NEVER BROKENtm’ blue bow tie cause marketing campaign. The Washington Informer joins a growing list of media sponsors for the campaign designed to address the issues of responsible fatherhood, mentoring and black male achievement.
“Our biggest struggle in combating father absence, the lack of viable mentors and the mounting issues facing America’s black males; is our inability to raise the societal level of conciseness in today’s media,” says Kenneth Braswell; Executive Director of Fathers Incorporated. “It is our vision that media partnerships can assist in helping us to project positive messages to our most vulnerable communities.”
Over the last several months the campaign has garnered international attention and is supported by the White House and several major urban cities. The Washington Informer joins an already impressive list of media sponsors to include KISSFM and HOT97 (New York), Gospel Today, Today’s Child, 1800RANT.COM, BLACKGIVESBACK.COM, I’m Just Say’in (Queens) and others. “We have represented African Americans in Washington DC for nearly 47 years. We are all too aware of the fatherlessness children in the communities we cover. We are pleased to support the ‘Ties Never Broken’ campaign and its efforts to improve the lives of countless children. It is our hope that by sharing the campaign’s activities with our readers, it will motivate them to take action and get involved,” says Denise Rolark Barnes, Publisher of the Informer.
Fathers Incorporated is embarking in several projects in the next two years that include partnerships with the Million Father March (Black Star Project), Real Men Cook (Real Men Charities); POWER DOWN campaign (a joint campaign with the Urban Leadership Institute to raise awareness of media consumption by youth) and leadership development at the Muhammad Ali Center. Fathers Incorporated recently released three television and radio public service announcements to address fatherlessness of black males.
Fathers Incorporated and the Ties Never Broken was honored by 100 Fathers Inc., a Washington DC based not-for-profit charged with providing services and advocacy in the field of Responsible Fatherhood. Franklyn Malone serves as a honorary board member of the Tie Never Broken campaign. “Great work is behind us; however a greater work is yet to be done. Our partnership is one that benefits the families of Washington DC and abroad,” says Malone.
ABOUT THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
Now published by Denise Rolark Barnes, The Washington Informer Newspaper Co. Inc. was founded on October 16, 1964 by Dr Calvin Rolark, in order to highlight positive images of African Americans. We continue to only do positive news, as we strive to EDUCATE, EMPOWER, and INFORM. We serve metropolitan Washington DC, and are now reaching over 50,000 readers each week through our award winning newspaper print edition; a weekly average of 30,000 unique visitors through our award winning website; 7,500 weekly subscribers through our weekly email newsletter, and potentially 300,000 viewers through our Washington Informer TV Show.
For additional information and updates on the TIES NEVER BROKEN campaign or other projects, please visit www.fathersincorporated.com and www.washingtoninformer.com. We can also be found on Facebook and Twitter (fathersincorp).
FATHERS INCORPORATED EXPANDS MEDIA SPONSORS BY WELCOMING BLACKGIVESBACK.COM
BLACKGIVESBACK.COM is the premier website for Black Philanthropy
NEW YORK, NY, September 15, 2011– Inspired by President Obama’s 2010 Father’s Day address, Fathers Incorporated (FI) continues to gain media support for its ‘TIES NEVER BROKENtm’ blue bow tie cause marketing campaign. BLACKGIVESBACK.COM joins a growing list of media sponsors for the campaign designed to address the issues of responsible fatherhood, mentoring and black male achievement.
“Our biggest struggle in combating father absence, the lack of viable mentors and the mounting issues facing America’s black males; is our inability to raise the societal level of conciseness in today’s media,” says Kenneth Braswell; Executive Director of Fathers Incorporated. “It is our vision that media partnerships can assist in helping us to project positive messages to our most vulnerable communities.”
Over the last several months the campaign has garnered international attention and is supported by the White House and several major urban cities.
BLACKGIVESBACK.COM joins an already impressive list of media sponsors to include KISSFM and HOT97 (New York), Gospel Today, Today’s Child, 1800RANT.COM, I’m Just Sayin (Queens) and others. “I am pleased to support the ‘Ties Never Broken’ campaign and its efforts to improve the lives of countless black males. It is my hope that by sharing the campaign’s activities and PSA’s with my readers, it will motivate them to take action and get involved,” say Tracey Webb, CEO and President of BLACKGIVESBACK.COM
Fathers Incorporated is embarking in several projects in the next two years that include partnerships with the Million Father March (Black Star Project), Real Men Cook (Real Men Charities); POWER DOWN campaign (a joint campaign with the Urban Leadership Institute to raise awareness of media consumption by youth) and leadership development at the Muhammad Ali Center. Fathers Incorporated recently released three television and radio public service announcements to address fatherlessness of black males.
For additional information and updates on the TIES NEVER BROKEN campaign or other projects, please visit www.fathersincorporated.com and www.blackgivesback.com.
Fathers Incorporated to be Honored at Congressional Black Caucus Reception
Kenneth Braswell (Fathers Incorporated) and Franklyn Malone (100 Fathers Inc.)
Fathers Incorporated has been selected to receive an award (Recognizing the Giants of the Fatherhood Movement) for its accomplishments, commitment and dedication to empowering the Fatherhood Movement. The reception will take place at the Congressional Black Caucus Reception and hosted by Vincent Gray, Mayor of the District of Columbia and The 100 Fathers, Inc. The 100 Fathers Inc. headed by its CEO, Franklyn Malone, is a community based organization comprised of fathers who have dedicated their lives and found purpose in their outreach to fathers across the country. Their mission is to acknowledge that the presence of fathers is essential to the lives of their children, family, and community. Their ultimate goal is for society to recognize that responsible fathers help to empower our families and communities and influence positive outcomes through education, character development, social responsibility and activism. The awards reception will take place on September 22nd at the John Wilson Building – 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW; 1st floor foyer from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. If you would like to attend please contact Stephanie Perry 202.576.5662 or Herman Odom 202.257.4606.
Fathers Incorporated Director, Kenneth Braswell to speak at the 2011 Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s 41st Annual Legislative Conference (ALC)
“Invest in the Next: Youth Empowerment Starts With You!” will be hosted by Rep. Elijah E. Cummings and take place on Friday, September 23, 2011 from 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM (Rm. 144-BC) at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center (WCC) in Washington, DC
The purpose of the forum is to raise awareness about the issues affecting boys and girls in today’s society and how those issues impact the African-American community. We will also examine best practices to build a strong foundation to assist our youth as they ascend into adulthood. We will discuss the necessary components of effective mentorship programs that provide holistic support in all areas of young people’s lives and how those programs can be replicated.
The Annual Legislative Conference is host to over 10,000 African Americans who convene in the nation’s capital to dialogue with opinion leaders, industry experts and CBC Members on issues that are critical to our community. This year’s conference theme is iLead | iServe. With a commitment to leadership excellence and unparalleled service, it is with great enthusiasm that the CBCF is assembling an outstanding panel, of which we hope you will agree to be apart, that will address this issue of significance to the African-American community.