Donating to Black Daddies Club

If you would like to support BDC, please send money order or cheques to the John Howard Society Toronto cc Black Daddies Club at the address below. You will receive a tax receipt through John Howard Society Toronto

John Howard Society of Toronto
60 Wellesley Street West
Toronto, ON
M5S 3L2

BREAKING BREAD

Purpose: "Breaking Bread" provides a space for Black fathers to discuss their experiences as fathers, to get emotional and social support from other fathers, and to learn strategies from each other for strengthening their contributions to their family and community.

Format: "Breaking Bread" consists of 3 facilitated weekly group discussions that capitalize on the social-cultural significance of gathering together for a meal to create a relaxed and neutral setting where men can share their experiences. The sessions are informal and interactive and include a film screening which are the stimulus for the conversation.

Target Audience: Black (native Canadian or foreign born descendants of Africans) fathers age 15-24; that reside in the Jane and Finch community. Limited space is available for young Black males who are not yet fathers to participate.

Community: All 12 "Breaking Bread" sessions will take place in the Jane and Finch community. The program will begin April 18, 2011 at Promoting Education and Community Health (P.E.A.C.H.) and will continue at P.E.A.C.H.until May 2nd. The other Jane and Finch neighborhoods that will host "Breaking Bread" sessions throughout 2011; will be Falstaff, Driftwood and San Romanoway.

Reason: Due to problems and concerns around community access many individuals are reluctant to leave their communities or neighborhoods to attend programs. Therefore, Black Daddies Club will go into these individual communities to facilitate the "Breaking Bread" program for young fathers. Each of these neighborhoods has their own story to tell, lessons to teach; and we are excited about the outcome of this program.

Contact: If you live in the Jane and Finch area and is interested in attending any the Breaking Bread sessions, please email us at:info@blackdaddiesclub.com
You can also follow us on Facebook for updates.

Black Daddies Club -Breaking Bread Team

What is BDC weekly in SWAY?

The BDC Weekly column in SWAY Magazine Online is a platform for Black fathers to speak their unvarnished truths.

All too often, our voices have been missing from critical discussions of parenting; what the column attempts to challenge is the widely-held belief that we having nothing of importance to contribute...that we are not as deeply invested in the well-being of our offspring as the mothers of our children appear to be.

The heartfelt commentaries that are submitted by Black fathers (in the GTA and beyond), who are quietly going about their very necessary job of co-parenting our Black tomorrows, stand as an emphatic repudiation of the 'Black Father as the Perennial, Absent, Deadbeat Dad' myth.

Far from being absent, we are very much present. And rest assured, we will remain a loving presence in the lives of our children, in stubborn defiance of all of the forces arrayed against our active participation in the healthy development of our Seed.

So, if you have a minute, come and take a look at what we have to share. And, if you are a Black Daddy, please don't hesitate to contribute to the ongoing conversation!

Please contact Junior Burchall directly if you're interested in submitting an article: juniorburchall@hotmail.com

Holistic Integration Programming (H.I.P.)

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

This is a very important project, because the aim of this project is to give these young men a voice, and help them with their communication skills as well open their minds up beyond the prison walls

• 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
• Community - working with these men when they are released into the community,
• Long- Term Community – ensuring that the individuals making sure these men are independent to navigate through the systems to acquire the help if needed.

• The Clients will learn how to set realistic and achievable goals.
• Develop programming within RM Youth Center that shows different role models and helps the youth develop new community contacts that will help them get established when they return to the community – The Virtual Rolodex for Youth
• The goal is to reach out to those who want to change and to have a different experience when they return to the community
• Give a resource booklet that has phone numbers and websites to partnering community agencies as well as other community resources that will help these youth transition into society more effectively
• Introducing the youth to various mentors from the community
• Working with social and probation workers to increase the re-integration success of the participants
• Participants to develop awareness into self exploration, education, and career exploration through workshops and discussion with various community stakeholders
• To engage fathers and potential fathers, and help develop their capacities as better fathers
• To survey each session and use that feedback to develop future sessions
• Build capacity of participants to develop and sustain a more successful re-integration experience
• Engage young men who are inmates at various detention facilities or youth centers, to break a negative cycle and replace with a positive cycle

Black Daddies Club presents Jobs 4 Dads

“Jobs for Dads” is an ongoing program where BDC partners with various employment agencies and professionals. The vision of this program is to work with fathers who are currently un-employed; by sending them up to date job listing/ referring workshops/ etc. which results in gainful employment for these individuals. “We currently go into churches, high schools, Post secondary, Barbershops and prisons. Come hear about current job opportunities, and how to get into your dream job.

Black Daddies Club presents Daddies and Me

This event is geared for fathers and their children spending quality time, doing various outings throughout the city, we have partnered with Kids Up Front Foundation, who will be donating tickets to concerts, sporting events, and local plays. We at the BDC knows that it can be difficult as parents to come up with disposable cash engage our youth in the arts, this partnership alleviate that stress on parents.