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Jack Yates High School’s
Million Father March National Men Take Their
Children to School Day
2014
Organizing Guide
2
MMIILLLLIIOONN FFAATTHHEERR MMAARRCCHH –– FFAACCTT SSHHEEEETT
A father who actively participates in the educational and social-emotional developmental life of a child is invaluable and irreplaceable.
Research shows that children whose fathers take active roles in their educational lives earn better grades, score higher on tests, enjoy school more and are more likely to graduate from high school and attend college.
Children have fewer behavior problems when fathers speak and listen to them regularly and are active in their lives.
A good father is part of a good parent team and is critical to a strong family structure.
Strong family structures produce children who are more centered, academically proficient, and socially developed, and who are valuable community assets.
Better parents produce better students, better schools, and better communities.
Fathers, grandfathers, foster fathers, stepfathers, uncles, cousins, big brothers, significant male caregivers, mentors, and friends of the family are all encouraged to participate in the Million Father March.
Although this event is sponsored by Black men, people of all ethnicities, faith backgrounds and genders are encouraged to take children to school on their first school day.
700 cities and 1,100,000 men are expected to participate in the 2014 Million Father March.
2014 marks eleven years since The Black Star Project’s first Million Father March in 2004.
Caution: Parents should always be aware of who comes in contact with their children. Parents should teach their children not to talk to or follow strangers. This cautious parental awareness should also extend to the virtual world of the Internet. Please advise your children never to talk with anyone they do not know.
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MMIILLLLIIOONN FFAATTHHEERR MMAARRCCHH –– PPRREE--EEVVEENNTT PPRREEPPAARRAATTIIOONN ACTIVITIES
Assign volunteers or staff to:
Notify area school superintendent, board members and principals that men will accompany their children to school on the first day of school.
Ask the principal to assign a parent or staff person to manage the MFM initiative.
Register your school or organization with The Black Star Project’s Million Father March 2014. (Please fill out and return registration form on page 4.)
Ask principals to send a notice to invite parents, especially men, to take their children to school on the first school day.
Ask school administrators to invite men (and women) into a parents’ room or auditorium for a short program while their children are in class (and include light refreshments like coffee, tea, water, juice and nuts).
Ask school staff to create packets for fathers and other significant male caregivers with information about their school and its programs for this coming school year.
Invite elected officials and dignitaries to greet men at the front of the school.
Create a letter, note, button or patch with “I took my children to school today” to pass out to parents as they arrive at school with their children.
Establish ways for fathers and other men to be involved with your school during the year, including The Black Star Project’s 300 Minute Reading Challenge.
Coordinate Outreach:
Create a Million Family March Organizing Committee in your city, town or village, and meet at least once weekly until the first day of school.
Partner with a school, faith-based or community organization that will serve as sponsor and fiscal agent for your initiative.
Share the fact sheet (page 2) with schools, faith-based organizations, civic and community organizations, government agencies, chambers of commerce, businesses and elected officials.
Notify area businesses about this event and ask them to support it by giving men who participate two to three hours off work—preferably with pay.
Notify newspapers, radio stations, television stations and other media outlets about The Black Star Project’s Million Father March 2014. (See sample press release on page 5.)
Use Million Father March 2014 flyers, fact sheets and pluggers to promote participation in this event.
Share your ideas for promoting this event with Million Father March Central at 773-285-9600 or email to [email protected].
Caution: Parents should always be aware of who comes in contact with their children. Parents should teach their children not to talk to or
follow strangers. This cautious parental awareness should also extend to the virtual world of the Internet. Please advise your children never to
talk with anyone they do not know.
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MMIILLLLIIOONN FFAATTHHEERR MMAARRCCHH –– RREEGGIISSTTRRAATTIIOONN FFOORRMM (For schools, government agencies, faith- based organizations, community-based agencies, and other organizers.)
The BlackStar Project’s
Million Father March 2014
Men Taking Children to School on Their First Day of School -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Black Star Project is encouraging fathers, stepfathers, foster fathers, grandfathers, uncles, brothers, godfathers, cousins, mentors and other significant male caregivers to take their children to school on the first day of the 2014-15 school year. When men are involved in the educational lives of their children, children perform better in school.
Employers are asked to grant fathers and other male caregivers time off from work for two to three hours (preferably with pay) to accompany their children to school on this first school day to help get the school year started right. Fathers and other men should be welcomed guests at their children’s schools. Some schools will provide information, activities and refreshments. Men across America who support the
Million Father March should arrive at school with their children 15 to 30 minutes before the starting bell.
Fathers and other men should only go into schools if invited by school staff. Otherwise, men should leave after their children enter the school.
Additionally, we encourage men to make a year-long special commitment to:
Improve your work and life skills.
Acquire more education for yourself and become role models for your children.
Support your children academically, spiritually, emotionally and financially.
Dedicate yourself to your family.
Build, clean, and maintain your community.
Develop an entrepreneurial spirit, become entrepreneurs, and develop economic resources.
Please add our organization to the Million Father March 2014 nationwide participant list. School, School District, Church, Organization, Government Agency, Elected Official, Business, Other ________________________________________________________________________________ (Please circle one category above and print the name of your group on the line above.)
Principal, Superintendent, Pastor, Minister, Board President, Executive Director, Government Official, CEO, Other ________________________________________________________________________________ (Please circle one title above and print your name and title on the line above.)
Address_____________________________City/State/Zip__________________________________ Phone ________________ Cell ________________ Fax ________________ Email _____________
Estimated number of fathers and other men expected to participate ________ _____________________________ ____________________________ _____________ (Please print your name) (Please sign your name) (Date)
Please either fax this form to 773-285-9602, return by email to [email protected], or mail it to The BlackStar Project,
3509 S. King Drive, Suite 2B, Chicago, Illinois 60653, Please visit www.blackstarproject.org or call us at 773-285-9600.
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MMIILLLLIIOONN FFAATTHHEERR MMAARRCCHH ––SSAAMMPPLLEE PPRREESSSS RREELLEEAASSEE
Date: 08/06/2014 Contact: Donetrus G. Hill, Principal For Immediate Release Jack Yates High School 832-656-3237
One Million Fathers Asked to Lead the Nation Back to School this Fall
700 Cities Could Participate in the Largest, Organized Back-to-School Effort in U.S. History
Houston – “Education has become a matter of national security. Because we cannot control our schools, we cannot control our economy. And because we cannot control our economy, we cannot control and protect our quality of life in America,” says Phillip Jackson, Executive Director of The Black Star Project, U.S.A. The Black Star Project is sponsoring the Million Father March 2014 on the first day of school in nearly 600 cities across America. The Million Father March has become a special day that fathers and men use to make a commitment to their children, their families, their communities and their country with their dynamic presence at a school. This is the real Fathers Day! The Million Father March 2014 will play out at thousands of schools across America. An estimated 1 million men, women and children participated nationwide in 630 cities in 2013. This year, an estimated 1,100,000 men from 700 cities are expected to participate. The Million Father March provides an escort of safety, support, and encouragement to children of all ages on their first day of school. Jackson says, “Fathers’ involvement in education is one of the best ways to improve the academic performance of children. Gang recruitment, bullying and random violence go way down on any day when a group of men are at a school.” Research shows that children whose fathers take an active role in their educational lives earn better grades, score higher on tests, enjoy school more and are more likely to graduate from high school and attend college. 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. “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, mentors and friends of the family. Although this event is created by Black men, people of any gender and ethnic identification are also encouraged to take their children to school on the first school day. Businesses are asked to give fathers and men two hours off that morning, with pay, to take their children to school. Participating men will also be encouraged to volunteer at schools throughout the year. A special effort will be made to coordinate Latino Fathers in La Marcha De Un Millón De Padres. Since schools across America and the world start the new school 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 nationwide between August 1, 2014, and September 15, 2014. The 2014 Million Father March is managed by The Black Star Project, U.S.A. Please visit our website at www.blackstarproject.org to bring the Million Father March to your city. For complete information about the March, you may also call 773.285.9600 or email [email protected]. The year, the Million Father March will feature The Black Star Project’s 300 Minute Reading Challenge where fathers and men encourage children to read to them for 30 minutes for 10 consecutive weeks. The 2014 Million Father March is sponsored in part by The Black Star Project and Jack Yates High School. Please email Robert Dooley at [email protected] or call 832-656-3237 for more information about the March.
