THOMAS C. LEPPERT
MAYOR
CITY OF DALLAS
MEDIA ADVISORY
For Immediate Release:
Mayor’s Office: 214.670.4054
August 14, 2007
Mayor Leppert to Recognize
Million Father March 2007
Dallas Area Fathers Marching for Educational Excellence and Stressing Importance of Father’s Role in Children’s Lives
WHAT: Special Recognition
WHEN: Wednesday, August 15th at 9:00 A.M.
WHERE: Council Briefing Room (6ES), Dallas City Hall
1500 Marilla St., Dallas TX 75201
WHO: Mayor Tom Leppert
Honorable Members of Dallas City Council
Joe Tave, Organizer of Dallas/FW Million Father March
MORE: See attached press release.
For Immediate Release
Contact: DFW Million Father March
August 14, 2007
Joe Tave, Organizer
214-339-4799, 469-951-8013
JoeLTave@prodigy.net
Ft. Worth Million Father March
Johnny Muhammad, Coordinator
817-773-3121
One Million Black Fathers Expected to Lead the 2007 March for Excellence in Education for American Schools
200 Cities Could Participate in the Largest, Organized
Back-to-School Effort in U.S. History
(Dallas, TX) – Like an army on its way to battle, hundreds of thousands of Black men will wake their children, make them breakfast, check their book bags, and then take them to school on the first day of school this fall school year. This scene will be played out at thousands of schools across America and other parts of the world. Last year, about 300,000 men from 127 cities participated in the Million Father March 2006. This year, an estimated 500,000 men from 200 cities are expected to participate. The Million Father March 2007 provides an escort of safety, support and encouragement to children of all ages.
“Research shows that children whose fathers take an active role in their educational lives earn better grades, get better test scores, enjoy school more / and are more likely to graduate from high school and attend college,” says Phillip Jackson, executive director of The Black Star Project, a Chicago-based non-profit leading the yearly Million Father March initiative.
Additionally, children have fewer behavior problems when fathers listen to and talk with them regularly and are active in their lives. A good father is part of a good parent team and is critical to creating a strong family structure. Strong family structures produce children who are more academically proficient, socially developed and self-assured. Such children become adults who are valuable assets to their communities.
“This is an exciting, productive and beneficial project for children, families, schools and the DFW region,” says Joe Tave, organizer of the DFW March. “Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert wholeheartedly supports the project which is in line with his focus on better schools and education platform.”
“Better parents produce better communities, better schools, and better students with higher academic achievements,” says Jackson.
Participants in the event include fathers, grandfathers, foster fathers, stepfathers, uncles, cousins, big brothers, significant male caregivers and friends of the family. Although this event is sponsored by Black men, women and men of all races are also encouraged to take their children to school on their first day.
Last year, from New Haven, Connecticut, to Hilo, Hawaii, fathers stepped up to take part in the Million Father March 2006. Each city tailored the March to meet their needs. Elected officials, dignitaries, celebrities, and print and radio media reps turned out in support of fathers on the first day of school.
“The Board of Directors of the National Council on Educating Black Children enthusiastically supports the yearly Million Father’s March, and encourages every school district superintendent and school board member to play a significant role in the success of this March,” says Diana Daniels, president. “It takes a whole village to raise a child,” Daniels says.
Since schools across America and the world start the year on different days and months, the March will be a rolling event that takes place on the first day of this school year in cities, villages, and towns between August 7, 2007, and October 13, 2007. Dallas ISD and all Texas Public schools begin classes on Monday, August 27, 2007.
The 2007 Million Father March is sponsored in part by The Black Star Project and the DFW Million Father March Project. For more information, visit http://www.blackstarproject.org.
2007 Million Father March
Facts and Effectiveness
* A father who actively participates in the educational and social development life of a child is invaluable and irreplaceable.
* Research shows that children whose fathers take active roles in their educational lives earn better grades, get better test scores, enjoy school more and are more likely to graduate from high school and attend college.
* Children have fewer behavior problems when fathers listen to and speak with them regularly and are active in their lives.
* A good father is part of a good parent team and is critical to strong family structures.
* Strong family structures produce children who are more centered, academically proficient and socially developed and are a valuable asset to their communities.
* Better parents produce better communities, better schools and better students.
* Fathers, grandfathers, foster fathers, step-fathers, uncles, cousins, big brothers, significant male caregivers and friends of the family can participate in the Million Father March.
* While this event is sponsored by Black men, women and men of all races and faith backgrounds are encouraged to take children to school on their first day of school.
* More then 200 cities are expected to participate in the Million Father March 2007.
* 2007 is the fourth year for the Million Father March.
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