BRONX BOROUGH PRESIDENT HOLDS "BRONX FATHERS TAKING ACTION"CON
On Thursday, March 29, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. held the first ever “Bronx Fathers Taking Action” conference, an open group discussion led by Borough President Diaz with psychologists, educators and social workers as well as fathers of all ages to emphasis the importance of a father’s involvement in their children’s life to help empower their growth and education. As you will see in the pictures below the rotunda of the Bronx County Building was packed, and there was a lively exchange that went on.
At the conference were service providers to help the fathers that included The United Federation of Teachers, Legal Services of the Bronx, The Children's Aid Society, Fathers 4 Progress, Partnership with Children, The Bronx Public Library, The Bronx Health Link, BronxWorks, Center for Employment Opportunities, New York City Children Services, The NYC Human Resources Administration, The NYC Department of Education, and the College Board.
Ms. Monica Major (BP Diaz's Director of Education & Youth Services) opened the conference with remarks from Mr. Wilfredo Pagan (Bronx Representative for the Panel on Education for Policy), and then the Interactive Panel Discussion led by BP Diaz took place. Panel members included Dr. Jeff Gordero (Psychologist), Mr. David Banks (President of the Eagle Academy Foundation), Mr. Jessie Mojica (Executive Director the Office of Parent Engagement at the NYCDOE), Mr. Nelson Mar, Esq. (of Bronx Legal Services), Mr. Roger ball, MSW/MA (social worker), and Mr. Raymond Singleton (Assistant Deputy Commissioner, NYC HRA/ Office of Child Support Enforcement).
The idea of this conference was to get fathers more involved in their children's education as BP Diaz said that almost half of all minority children under 17 have no father. He added "This is not for me, but the entire community, the Bronx". I asked BP Diaz what he thought of the 33 schools being closed by the mayor and chancellor with 10 of the 33 in the Bronx. Diaz answered that "closing down a school is not the solution", Adding that the DOE has violated proper procedures, and that children are not given the services or resources that they need.
To enlarge the picture, just click on it.
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| Ms. Monica Major speaks to the crowd, with BP Diaz seated in his chair waiting to hear from the Bronx fathers that came. In the background are some of the panelist. |
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| You can see the packed audience with standing room only.. |
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| Here you see BP Diaz and the panel taking questions from some of the fathers gathered. |
