The Black Daddies Club (BDC) located in Toronto is looking for some volunteers for their advisory board. Check it out …

The Black Daddies Club (BDC) was founded in 2007 by Brandon Hay in response to the lack of forums and spaces for Black men to discuss parenting issues as well as the issues facing the Black Community as a whole. The main goal is to change the image of black fathers in the media, from a neglectful figure to a responsible, involved and loving role model.

BDC Mandate/Guiding Principles

• To develop a continuous support system for black fathers to share their challenges and or experiences

• To host events featuring various speakers both high-profile and “everyday” people who inspire and encourage positive practices for Black fathers and community members generally

• To work with various media outlets to provide alternate images of black fathers

The Black Daddies Club (BDC) is currently recruiting 11 volunteers to be apart of an advisory board (1 year term) as well as community agencies to partner with for our latest initiative called the Holistic Integration Programming (H.I.P).

About H.I.P (Holistic Integration Programming)

The H.I.P is a 3 step model initiative focused on successfully integrating incarcerated individuals back into society upon their release:

1. Youth Center – working directly with the young men that are incarcerated at various youth centres or prisons, to break a negative cycle and replace with a positive cycle; using methods of mentorship and various community partners

2. Community – working with these men when they are released into the community,

3. Long- Term Community – ensuring that the individuals making sure these men are independent to navigate through the systems to acquire the help if needed.

Our proposed role for the advisory committee is to provide strategic input to BDC that will assist in accomplishing the goals set by the H.I.P. initiative. Your contributions as part of the advisory committee will be much appreciated and we will do our best to accommodate all members of the committee to ensure that your participation is possible. As part of the initial step of the H.I.P. BDC is currently recruiting and setting up the advisory committee. The advisory committee’s term end date is July 2011. The advisory committee will be consulted approx 4-5 times over the course of the project’s timeline. Meetings will take place in person as well as by phone and via e-mail. Our initial in person is tentatively scheduled for early June.

We are particularly interested in candidates and agencies with grassroots community engagement experience.

Specifically, we are seeking:

• Individuals or community agencies with the capacity to assist is areas such as social work and research, law, family law and human rights, social development, education (post secondary), rites of passage, mental health, social justice movements, and employment

• People who bring a perspective that encompasses the general experience of visible minority groups

• People from various ethnic identities, cultural traditions and backgrounds

• People who understand from their personal experience, work, and/or volunteer activity issues important to vulnerable or marginalized community members

• People who live or work in any of Toronto’s 13 priority neighbourhoods

Send your letter of interest to info@blackdaddiesclub.com identifying your skills and qualifications. (Deadline: May 2nd, 2010)

If you are interested in hearing more about the H.I.P. initiative, BDC will be conducting a community meeting open to the general public on Saturday, May 1st (1p.m.-3p.m.) at Harlem restaurant (67 Richmond Street East just east of Church street, http://www.harlemrestaurant.com/aboutus.html). Admission is free.

Black Daddies Club
http://www.blackdaddiesclub.com/

God bless, peace, be well and keep the faith,
Vibe and Vegas
info@blackcanadianman.com