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.

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.

In support of President Obama’s Fatherhood & Mentoring Initiative, Oscar Winner Lou Gossett, Jr. and Deputy Assistant to the President Michael Strautmanis led a Responsible Fatherhood Roundtable discussion and recognition ceremony. At the event, both spent time recognizing individuals who are working to promote responsible fatherhood in Los Angeles. These people were surrounded by young people involved in sports games and leadership activities from Challengers Boys and Girls Club who hosted the discussion.

Through the discussion, all of us had the chance to learn about, lift up, and connect organizations in Los Angeles that are helping fathers to be actively engaged with their kids. I was inspired by the individual stories of the ten men and women connected with these organizations. Their dedication and positive presence in their families and communities is truly remarkable.

• Roderick Elzy helps dads discover the tools they need to become better fathers through the Fatherhood Initiative at Great Beginnings for Black Babies.
• Kenneth Hilton balances his work schedule as a Mortgage Banker with his first priority of spending time with his wife and his four children.
• Sung Soon Lee dedicates himself to the care of his 15-year-old son, who was born with Cerebral Palsy.
• Michael Cummings meets regularly with other fathers at a housing development in South Central LA to help them connect with their kids, as he is doing with his own daughter, Emonni.
• Mary Weaver serves as the Executive Director of Friends Outside in Los Angeles County, which provides services to families and children and their incarcerated and formerly incarcerated family members.
• Thomas Enriquez receives valuable support from the Children’s Institute’s Project Fatherhood and from his family so that he can attend school related events with his kids, as a single father of four.
• Samuel Spicer, Jr. helps dads get involved with their children’s education through the Fatherhood Program at CDI Head Start, serving the San Gabriel Valley, CA.
• Jason Franklin mentors youth returning from juvenile camps and prison back into society and has benefited from his own mentors, who have helped him be a better father to his two young daughters.
• Jim Miller spends more time with his family now that he left the corporate world and started Elevate Sports LA, where he encourages families to grow together through the mutual enjoyment of physical activity.
• Edward Sykes gives credit to his wife, mother, and grandmother for helping him understand the values that have made him a good father to his teenage son, despite growing up without his own biological father.

Through the actions of each of these individuals, and the support of their mentors and families, it was clear that a major effort is taking place in our local communities to make sure every child has a responsible adult role model in their life.

Deborah List is a Presidential Management Fellow in the Center for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships at the Department of Justice.