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Rev. James Redd, father of Bucks’ Michael Redd to speak at Fatherhood summit October 14
On Friday and Saturday, October 13 and 14, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, the Milwaukee Fatherhood Collaborative, the Black Health Coalition of Wisconsin and the Mother Kathryn Daniels Conference Center will bring together more than 400 fathers, social service providers and community leaders to gather during an all day, city-wide summit aimed at identifying ways to get men to proactively embrace their role as fathers.
Milwaukee’s first Fatherhood Summit will be held at Mother Daniels’ Conference Center, located at 35th and Hampton Avenue.
The event kicks off with a pre-conference on Friday, October 13, at 3 p.m., at the Mother Kathryn Daniels’ Conference Center.
Rev. James Redd, father of Milwaukee Buck’s Michael Redd, will provide remarks during the pre-conference, at 5:30 p.m.
In addition, everyone attending the pre-conference event will receive a free ticket to the Milwaukee Buck’s pre-season game on October 14.
During the summit a variety of breakout sessions will be held with topics ranging from mental health and depression, to reconnecting to families after incarceration, to the issues and resources related to non-custodial dads.
There will also be judges on hand as part of the drivers’ license recovery program. Also fathers who attend the workshop and owe back child support to the State, may qualify to receive a credit toward interest owed on back child support.
At lunchtime, a keynote address will be delivered by Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist and author of Becoming Dad: Black Men and the Journey to Fatherhood Leonard Pitts.
The overall objectives of the summit are to empower the latent strength in families and the community, and to create a multi-level initiative that builds and supports Milwaukee's men as they work to become better fathers.
“Responsible fatherhood is an issue and opportunity that crosses cultural, political, geographic and economic lines in our city,” said Terence Ray, chair of the Planning Committee.
“Involved fathers can strengthen Milwaukee’s children, families and, thus, the community as a whole for generations to come.”
The overall mission of the Mayor’s Community Leadership Committee is to improve the well being of all children by increasing the number of children growing up with involved, responsible and committed fathers in their lives.
The mission will be achieved through engaging all sectors of society--business, healthcare, civic, philanthropic, social services, media, government, education and faith in positively promoting responsible fatherhood.
