The Million Father March is Coming – Join In and Walk Your Kids to School

The Black Star Project is sponsoring the Million Father March 2014 on the first day of school in nearly 700 cities across America, involving thousands of schools. An estimated 1 million men, women and children participated nationwide in 630 cities in 2013. This year, an estimated 1.1 million men from 700 cities are expected to participate in the largest organized back-to-school effort in U.S. history. The Million Father March provides an escort of safety, support, and encouragement to children of all ages on their first day of school.

David Wagner, Chairman of the Evansville Commission on the Social Status of African-American Males, is once again calling on the community to take part in the national effort. “We saw significant numbers of fathers, grandfathers and other significant male figures participating last year and we want to see that momentum continue,” Wagner said. “We want all fathers and significant male figures to know that the community needs their support. We are asking fathers to get involved and have a presence at your child’s school because the consequences are too great for fathers to take a back seat in the educational lives of their children.”

Phillip Jackson, Executive Director of The Black Star Project, U.S.A., added, “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.”

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 Father’s Day!

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 parenting 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 and friends of the family. Although this event is created by Black men, people of any gender and ethnic identification are 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. Also, the 2014 Million Father March will feature the Black Star Project’s 300 Minute Reading Challenge. Fathers and men are encouraged to read to their children for 30 minutes for 10 consecutive weeks.

The 2014 Million Father March is sponsored in part by The Black Star Project and the Evansville Commission on the Social Status of African-American Males. The March will take place on August 11 in Evansville. For more information on the Black Star Project, U.S.A., visit www.blackstarproject.org. For complete information about the March, email blackstar1000@ameritech.net or call (773) 285-9600 for more information. For information on the Evansville March, email hrc@evansvillegov.org or call (812) 436-4927.