Submitted by Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc
“Dads Matter – Cultivating Future Fathers” was the empowerment theme for the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., and Project Friendship, Inc., Historical Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Fatherhood Youth Leadership Conference at Florida A&M University (FAMU).
Male students, third through twelfth grade, and parents from around the state of Florida and FAMU students convened for the conference. Financial education sessions hosted by Regions Bank representatives, community law enforcement relationship talks conducted by the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executive (NOBLE) North Florida Chapter, and life skills dialogues were led by an array of community professionals.
- Earl Wilson, Chairman, Fatherhood Initiative and Mentoring, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., set the frame work, informing the attendees of the conference purpose: to inspire male youth to be productive citizens today and positive future fathers.
FAMU’S Chief of Police, Terrence Callaway, welcomed the visitors to the campus and inspired the students by highlighting the values and advantages of attending FAMU and other HBCUs.
The attendees viewing of excerpts from the documentary Spiting Anger captured the essence of why the conference is essential to increasing fathers’ involvement in their children’s lives.
A Father’s Anger, a father-hood session led by Pastor Gary Montgomery, Live Stone Church, Akhenaton Thomas, Non-custodial Father, and Vance Wiggins of Tallahassee Child Support discussed challenges fathers encounter with being absent from the family, and the negative mental health impact dads face as a result.
Mothers were engaged in “Both Parents Matter” conversations as Lashawn Gordon, United Partnership for Tallahassee Human Ser-vices; Veronica Jackson, Magnolia Mediation; and Jessica Goodman-Taylor, Teen Court Leon County provided antidotes and discussed why courts make decisions with both parents in mind but with the children being the most important component in the family equation.
Regions Bank representatives, Felicia E. Richardson, Branch Manager, Tallahassee, and Cameron Youmans, Centerville, informative Managing Your Money youth and parent sessions, brainstorm ways to increase income and decrease spending.
The interactive financial education topics stressed creating a personal spending plan and setting financial goals. Attendees engaged in financial exercises that discussed borrowing smarter, everyday ban
