More Books for Dads

David Kamp recently reviewed Michael Chabon's new essay collection "Manhood for Amateurs -- The Pleasures and Regrets of a Husband, Father, and Son", in the New York Times. In so doing, he referred to a "growing catalog of Dad Lit." Other books that fall into this category are "Home Game: An Accidental Guide to Fatherhood" by Michael Lewis, and "Through the Children's Gate: A Home in New York" by Adam Gopnik.

Earlier, Judith Warner, whose respected book about motherhood was published in 2005, added a number of other books to burgeoning catalog: Neal Pollack’s "Alternadad" , and two other father confessionals: Philip Lerman’s “Dadditude: How a Real Man Became a Real Dad” and Cameron Stracher’s “Dinner with Dad: How I Found My Way Back to the Family Table.” "And, according to Warner, ..."aiming at making sense of it all, there’s psychoanalyst Michael J. Diamond’s “My Father Before Me: How Fathers and Sons Influence Each Other Throughout Their Lives.”

Tell us about your favorite Dad Lit picks.

And the Winners Are...

This year's Fatherhood Awards were presented on Tuesday morning, September 22, 2009 in the Board of Supervisors chambers. Supervisor Mark Church will presented to:

Fatherhood Advocacy: The MY HERO PROGRAM of the Network for a Healthy California. Dr. Chanrandle Jordan received the award on behalf of the program.

Fatherhood Service: PRENATAL TO THREE PARENTING EDUCATION PROGRAM, received by CoordinatorKristine Averilla (between Supervisor Mark Church, and Fatherhood Collaborative Advisory Board Chair, Bruce Collins.

Father of the Year: Robert L. Jones, was nominated by his wife, Gloria, and his two children for being an extraordinary father, who "talked to and encouraged [his] children during pregnancy, before they were born." According to his wife, “He counsels, encourages, motivates, mentors and pushes not only our children, but young men wherever he is." His wife went on to describe his caring for their granddaughter who was born prematurely and weighed less than two pounds. "Grandfather would stroke her tiny little arm with one finger through the small opening [of the incubator], talking to her, telling her how much she is loved, how she will be a beautiful woman when she grows up and will help grandmother bake cookies, and of course we are going to Disneyland." We are honored to present our award to this Father of the Year.

Books for Fathers

Recently our board member, Sylvia Key, came across two books related to fatherhood and raising black sons. The descriptions are from the publishers.


The first book is Successfully Raising Young Black Men by Dr. Kevin D. Barnes, Sr. Dr. Barnes is the father of three sons. With honesty, humor, love, and wisdom, this book shows parents how to successfully raise young black men and encourages parents to be the parents young black men need in this day and time. Dr. Barnes is pastor of the Abyssinian Missionary Baptist Church in Oakland, CA
www.SuccessfullyRaisingYoungBlackMen.com
www.Dr.KevinBarnesSr.com
www.amazon.com


The second book is A Journal for Jordan: A Story of Love and Honor by Dana Canedy. In 2005, First Sergeant Charles Monroe King began to write what would become a two-hundred-page journal for his son in case he did not make it home from the war in Iraq. In October 2006, he was killed when an improvised explosive device detonated under his Humvee near Bagdad. His son, Jordan, was seven months old. A Journal for Jordan is a mother’s letter to her son—fierce in its honesty--about the father he lost before he could speak. It is also a father’s advice and prayers for the son he will never know. Dana Canedy is senior editor at the New York Times.
Visit AJournalforJordan.com
Also available as an EBook and on audio from Random House at www.crownpublishing.com

Please let us know what you think of the books.

SUMMERTIME

Hurry, hurry-- it is not too late to get your nominations in for the Fatherhood Awards. The deadline is August 28, 2009, to nominate for Father of the Year, Fatherhood Advocate, and Fatherhood Service awards. Click here for the nomination forms.

But, where has the summer gone??? It's hard to believe that almost two months have passed without a single new post from us. It could be that we have been very busy preparing for the upcoming year. Foremost on our agenda has been planning for our annual professional conference. In the space of two short months, we have secured awe-inspiring keynote speakers, a date, a venue, a conference title, and, most importantly, a Save the Date flyer. See it here, and watch this space and our website for registration information.

On another 'event' note, we missed Dad & Me @ the Park this year, but have vowed to bring it back. All you dads, mark your calendars for June 19, 2010, for an all new, better than ever, Dad & Me @ the Park.

Father's Day Radio Interview

Our Board Chair, Bruce Collins, was interviewed by Peter Finch of KFOG / KNBR radio for a broadcast that aired on Father's Day.

To hear the entire broadcast, click on this link: http://www.kfog.com/Community/TakePart.aspx Bruce's interview is the last one, scroll forward to 23:00 to hear just his remarks.

Father

President Obama's Father's Day Proclamation

In honor of Father's Day 2009, President Obama has issued a proclamation honoring, thanking, and encouraging all fathers to participate in the lives of their families. You can read it here.