COURIER LIFE, JULY 3-9, 2020 15
LET US BE YOUR
"DESIGNATED
REPRESENTATIVE "
AND
HAVE THE RESPONSIBLE INSURANCE
COMPANY PAY TO REPAIR YOUR CAR TO
FACTORY SPECIFICATIONS AND 'DELIVER
IT TO YOU WITH THAT NEW CAR
SHOWROOM LOOK WHILE DRIVING AN
IMMEDIATE REPLACEMENT CAR RENTAL
A short drive thru the Battery Tunnel from Manhattan
The construction of a
home begins with the laying
down of the foundation.
The foundation is the
strongest base of a home to
keep it from sinking. In the
family unit, we recognize
the importance of fathers
as an important part of the
foundation.
We know there is a “father
absence” crisis in
America, with more than 1
in 4 children living without
a father in the home. Statistics
aside, single fathers
are getting a bad rap, especially
in communities of
color. If you talk to today’s
young fathers, they’ll probably
tell you that they love
nothing more than connecting
with their children
and being a provider, but
they just need some guidance
and support.
For fathers, parenting
advice can come in many
forms. Sometimes the best
results can come through
mentoring or the sharing
of experiences. Dr. Michael
Rodriguez, who has
headed the Men’s Resource
Center at Kingsborough
Community College (KCC)
for 11 years, said it best
that “great mentors do not
simply pass on knowledge.
They freely share all their
knowledge and experiences
to help someone else learn
from the totality of their
life experiences.” Through
mentorship, his program
has seen countless young
fathers cultivate healthy
relationships on and off
campus, graduate and become
successful.
In academics, we recognized
the needs of students
who are single fathers, trying
to juggle classes, hold
down a job and be good
role models. It’s important
that they don’t give up. For
this reason, the CUNY Fatherhood
Academy (CFA),
opened its doors. This free
program promotes responsible
parenting and economic
stability for unemployed
and underemployed
fathers ages 18-30. Fathers,
who many have dropped
out of school, will receive
help in attaining a High
School Equivalency (HSE)
diploma, enrolling in college
and acquiring gainful
employment. Through
CFA, fathers are given the
opportunity to invest in
themselves. The program’s
mentors take a personal interest
in the participants.
“I personally believe
that a father is an important
role in our lives and
usually the first example of
manhood our children are
exposed to. It is this belief
that helps me push fathers
to be introspective, and
redefine their masculinity
and approach to being
fathers not based on some
of the societal stereotypes,
but to push to be their best
self through accountability
and love,” said Kymel Yard,
the CFA program director
at KCC.
These are just two examples
of a number of programs
found in our city’s
colleges and universities
that can help young father
improve their employment
and educational expectations,
and become better
and more engaged parents.
Dr. Claudia V. Schrader
is president of Kingsborough
Community College.
For more information on
the Men’s Resource Center
and the Fatherhood Academy
at KCC, visit www.kbcc.
cuny.edu.
EDUCAT I O N PROFI LE
The Father Factor
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/www.kbcc
/www.kbcc
/cuny.edu
