Community Summit on Fatherhood -- Bridging Fathers, Schools and Communities

Planning Committee:

Erik Vecere, Director, National Fatherhood Initiative of Greater Pittsburgh
Paul Lyons - Counselor, Pittsburgh Public Schools
Melvin El - Project Coordinator, Healthy Start Male Initiative Program
Mark Rauterkus - Activist, Coach (Parent Education Resource Center Board Member)
Steve Johnson - Youth Specialist, Mothers to Sons Program
Linda Cuttler - Juvenile Court Project, County Bar Association

Review of Forum Summary
Discuss Backup Location Possibilities
Establish List of Speakers and Breakout Sessions Leaders
Targe Audience
Timeline / Logistics

Event Overview

Theme - Bridging Fathers, Schools and Communties

Purpose - Create a comprehensive action plan to involve and engage fathers socially and educationally in their child's school in order to enrich families, schools and communities.

Structure -

Open with two prominent keynote speakers representing the education sector (Dr. Thompson and K Leroy Irvis were suggested). Topics would focus on the importance of father and family involvement for schools and communities.

Following the opening presentations, participants will move into break out work sessions. Suggested breakout sessions may include: 1) the PERC program; 2) Mechanisms for Father Involvement in Schools; 3) Fathers and the Educational Milestones of their Children; 4) Communities Coming into the Schools / schoolsGoing Out to the Communities; 5) utilizing Fathers Inside and Outside of Schools.

Each breakout session will develop action points that will get plugged into an overall action plan.

At the conclusion of the breakout sessions, all participants will reconvene for an open forum and to discuss the next step.

Resource tables will be available for the community to foster collaboration among various organizations.

Date - Targeted for December 5, 2002 from 11 am to 5 pm.