Week 11: Fatherhood

President Obama has said that being a father to Malia and Sasha is the most important job he has. At the same time, growing up without a dad himself, the President understands firsthand the holes that fathers leave in their families when they are absent. Over the past two years, President Obama has joined with fathers around the country through the President’s Fatherhood and Mentoring Initiative to send a strong message about personal responsibility while supporting dads who want to be there for their kids. This Initiative has included support for local fatherhood programs, town halls around the nation, partnerships with outside organizations and a new www.fatherhood.gov website. In honor of Father’s Day, we honor these Champions of Change who recognize the importance of good fathers as role models in young children’s lives and have dedicated themselves to mentoring and supporting fathers across the country.

Matt Baker

Matt Baker presently serves in an executive sales position at Blackboard managing international strategy. He and his wife have four children.

Thabiti Boone

Thabiti Boone is an inspirational public figure, speaker, a college basketball Hall of Famer, author, leader, minister and humanitarian.

Christopher Cady

LS1 Christopher Cady is in the U.S. Navy and is the recipient for the 2011 Military Fatherhood Award from the National Fatherhood Initiative.

Steve Crawford

Steve Crawford has been in education for 13 years as an elementary teacher, assistant principal and now a principal.

Carlos Duran

Carlos Duran is the founder of Hombres de Palabra (Men of their Word), an organization “helping men reach their maximum potential through education, training and initiatives.”

George Gordon II

George Gordon II is a young father who mentors other young fathers at his church.

Thomas Green III

Thomas Green III is a US Army Veteran, deployed in Iraq. He was awarded a Purple Heart after being seriously injured by an IED.

Daniel Jenkins

Daniel Jenkins is an active duty Master Sergeant in the West Virginia Air National Guard, as the Retention Office Manager, for the 167th AirLift Wing, located in Martinsburg, West Virginia.

Jonathan Mayo

Jonathan Mayo is the Internship Coordinator for Year Up Atlanta. Jonathan has extensive experience in nonprofit and corporate managerial leadership.

George McAndrews has been recognized previously through the Illinois Fatherhood Initiative and is being recognized for his role as a grandfather. George has 18 grand children who are extremely important to him.

Dr. Roderick Mitchell

Dr. Roderick Mitchell is the Founder and Pastor of the New Life Church, Inc. of Cleveland, Mississippi since March of 1994. He is the Founder and President of Exodus School of the Bible in Renova, MS; Bishop and Founder of Miletus Covenant Connection.

Alfred Plummer

Al Plummer mentors men in local jails and prisons for All Pro Dads in Noblesville, IN, serves on the Youth Football League Board and the Jehoshua House Community Council Board for Re-entry Programs, and was recently ordained as an Elder in his church.