15th Annual Father's Day Event

Overview For the 15th year, Lexington will host a community-wide Father’s Day weekend of family events. The main event will be held Saturday June 15, 2019. All events seek to encourage fathers and men that are positively engaged in the lives of children and families. Activities will also appreciate those adults, volunteers, and mentors that have stood in the gaps for absent fathers. Finally, activities seek to nudge and equip those men that are less engaged in the lives of their children.

Special emphasis will be placed on parental awareness, education, violence prevention, and increasing community engagement among men throughout the community. Event is organized and supported by the Lexington Leadership Foundation’s Fatherhood Initiative (FI), Urban Impact, an Advisory Board and community partners.

The day will include:

• Ecumenical Men’s Prayer Breakfast at First African Baptist Church

• A father and family March from First African to Douglass Park

• Education/Resource fair of 25+ agency resources and education for fathers/men and families including finances, housing, health, employment, technology, counseling, and more.

• Food, music, live entertainment/performances, and giveaways, Free Father/Family Photos

• Comments from local leaders, advocates and empowerment groups

Objectives The Fatherhood Initiative mission is to restore, equip, and deploy fathers/men in the family, faith community, and community-at-large. The purposes of the events reach well beyond the weekend. Specific objectives include, but are not limited to:

• Increase capacity of individuals/organizations to provide services to fathers, men, and families

• Recognize Douglass Park’s Centennial Celebration

• Raise public awareness of programs and resources for fathers, children, and families

• Build \community collaborations and coherent service continuum

• Identify and recruit men and adults for program participation and mentor relationships

• Build Capacity for Statewide fatherhood resources