The New York Fathering Committee will hold its seventh Annual Fatherhood Conference virtually on Tuesday, November 9th, at 6:00 p.m. The theme for the conference is “A Time to Restart, Refocus & Renew.”
Marc Morial, President and CEO of the National Urban League, will be the keynote speaker.
Mr. Morial is a former Mayor of New Orleans, past president of the United States Conference of Mayors, and former Louisiana State Senator. Marc is a leading voice on issues impacting marginalized and disenfranchised community members. He has been recognized as one of the 100 most influential Black Americans by Ebony Magazine, one of the top 50 Non Profit Leaders by the NonProfit Times, and one of the 100 most influential Black Lawyers in America. Marc Morial is an inductee in the International Civil Rights Walk of Fame in Atlanta, Georgia.
This year’s conference will be co-sponsored by the NYS Council on Children and Families, which works to coordinate New York's health, education and human services systems as a means to provide more effective systems of care for children and families. As part of this larger mission, the Council has focused on strengthening and building fatherhood culture and community across the entire state.
Reginald L. Cox, Founder and Director of the Fatherhood Connection commented, “It is great that all 10 NYS regions served by the Council on Children and Families will come together for the first time as a unified voice in this Fatherhood Conference.”
To be a good father, a man needs to care for himself as well as his children. This year’s Conference Chair, Frank Williams, Executive Director of the White Plains Youth Bureau announced, “This event will spotlight the critical impact of life-long learning for fathers and their families. Speakers and workshops will focus on strategies to enrich, encourage, and support opportunities for dads to establish and strengthen good family relations, to explore local employment and educational avenues…and the world – together.”
As in past years, we will spotlight the impact local fathers have in the community:
Sessions I & II - will focus on employment, strengthening father-family involvement, sound finances, education, and employment.
Session III (December 9th) - will feature former Mount Vernon High School Basketball Player and NBA Star Ben Gordon as a panelist addressing the topic “Wellness for Today’s Dads in the Age of COVID.” The evening will focus on health and well-being and will engage young fathers in self-care issues and staying well in the age of COVID-19.
Ben Gordon played in the NBA for 11 seasons with the Chicago Bulls, Detroit Pistons, Charlotte Hornets and Orlando Magic. Gordon has settled back home in Mount Vernon as a father and advocate, and is speaking up helping youth, fathers and athletes addressing their wellness issues. Gordon said that he is “more than a basketball player.” He is “a father, and a role model. It’s important to give back to the community so that our youth can have a path forward and aspire to be their best self.” He commented, that “I had my own problems, but thank God, I have been able to rebound and contribute back to my own community.” Dads need to know that there are resources available that can help support them in their time of need.