ADVISORY: President Obama to Discuss Importance of Fatherhood and Personal Responsibility

WASHINGTON - Today, President Obama is scheduled to begin a national conversation on responsible fatherhood and healthy families with a series of events designed to illuminate the importance of fatherhood and mentorship and how dads are strengthening themselves, their families and their communities.
 

EVENT DETAILS

1:00 PM - Visits to Area Non-Profit Organizations
The President’s visit is pooled press. All other visits are open press, but space is limited.  All riser space has been allocated.
Set Time: 12:30 PM

President Obama and participating fathers and mentors will pair up and visit Washington area non-profit organizations that focus on youth mentorship.

Non-Profit Sites & Participants
 
Life Pieces to Master Pieces
DeWayne Wade – Miami Heat & Reggie Love – White House Staff

Falcon’s Edge
Antwan Randle El – Washington Redskins & Greg Brown – President and CEO, Motorola Corporation

Arch Training Center
U.S. Senator Evan Bayh & Etan Thomas – Washington Wizards

Asian American LEAD
BD Wong – Tony Award Winning Actor & Dr. Steve Rosen – Northwestern Cancer Center

Latin American Youth Center
Tony Hawk – Professional Skateboarder & Jorge Ramos – Reporter/Anchor, Univision

Covenant House
Dr. Robert Franklin - President, Morehouse College & Denis McDonough – White House Staff

Gospel Rescue Mission
Bobby Flay – Award winning chef & Michael Strautmanis – White House Staff

Ballou Automotive Technology Center (Ballou Senior High School)
Bill Cowher – Former NFL coach & Darryl McDaniels of Run DMC – Legendary Hip Hop Artist

 
2:45 PM - Town Hall on Fatherhood
Open press, but space is limited.  All riser space has been allocated
East Room (Pre-set 1:15PM – Final Gather 2:25PM – North Doors of the Palm Room)

Upon returning to the White House, President Obama will participate in a conversation on fatherhood in the East Room featuring five fathers from a diversity of backgrounds discussing their personal stories and commitment to fatherhood and personal responsibility.  The session will also include questions from the audience.

Participants:
Juan Carlos Artero - Arlington, VA
Young father, graduate of model transitional jobs organization

Joe Jones - Baltimore, MD
Ex-substance abuser and offender, founder and President of the Center for Urban Families, one of the nation’s leading fatherhood and family programs

Mike Laas, Bettendorf, IA
An everyday dad working together with his wife to support their family

Chief Quartermaster John Lehnen, U.S. Navy
Military dad with four children including a set of triplets

Etan Thomas, Washington Wizards
Celebrity father balancing work, family and community service

 
4:00 PM – Mentoring Session with Washington, DC Area Youth
Open press, but space is limited.  All riser space has been allocated
South Lawn (Pre-set 1:45PM – Final Gather 3:40PM – North Doors of the Palm Room)

The final event of the day has fathers, mentors and DC area youth participating in activities on the White House South Lawn.  President Obama will open this event, which will include mentoring sessions and other activities.

To reserve space, you must RSVP by 10:00 AM EDT TODAY to media_affairs@who.eop.gov and list all of the events you wish to attend in the subject line of your email.

For more information on this event, contact White House Media Affairs Office at 202-456-6238.

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