THE IMPACTS OF INSPIRATIONAL INFLUENCERS: PART ONE OF SIX

When Goodness Meets Purpose

Health, Psychology, Social Work, Early Childhood, Head Start, Educators, and Family Studies
A Series About Those Living In Their Ikigai
Dr. James C. Rodriguez, MSW
27 November 2023

WHEN YOU THINK YOU LOST EVERYTHING  

When you feel like you're losing the strength to keep fighting, someone can always help you turn things around.

In April, Stanley Tucker, a retired conductor for Amtrak, asked me a question that left me feeling inspired. He asked if I knew the meaning of the word "jubilee" and spoke of the special jubilee of Fathers and Families Coalition of America. His words reminded me of the importance of this small yet global nonprofit, and the warm smile I imagined on his face from across the country filled me with hope. Stanley, Bruce Boyden, Phillipa Johnson, Judy Walker, Victor Berrelz, Carol Consentino, Ruth Eaton, and hundreds more have been loyal yearly volunteers for over two decades, and their dedication is truly inspiring.

I had a tough conversation with David Kobelin, who was on the other side of the nation, to imagine the following. David asked me to draw a circle in the center of a paper and then draw twenty-five circles around the center circle. He then instructed me to create circles around the first twenty-five circles with twenty-five circles. David continued this process until the center circle, all alone, was surrounded by one hundred circles. He then instructed me to fill all the white outer space with circles.

David reminded me of impact, influence, and inspiration, just as Stanley did. The center circle represented me as a young man with an idea to create an event where attendees of all backgrounds, professions, ethnicities, genders, faiths, etcetera would come for one sole purpose: "How can we make a difference in the lives of others?" The first twenty-five circles around the center represent every year's volunteers and staff that have made the idea in the desert of central Arizona a global source of inspiration for twenty-five years. The second encirclement represents all workshop session presenters, keynote speakers, and more year after year! The third encirclement represents the overflow of the goodness of each session into the lives of attendees so fired-up they went home or worked to Be The Difference. The final encirclement is impact—the impact of twenty-five years on homes and communities.

The blog post is not about recalling people who could fill up the "Rose Bowl," as David had mentioned. Instead, I would like to take this opportunity to highlight all the speakers participating in the 25th International Families and Fathers Conference, which will take place from April 22-25, 2024. I aim to share their incredible impacts, influences, and inspirations that have changed the lives of hundreds of thousands of people. You can meet each one of them in Los Angeles or virtually.

WE ARE BUILT ON VOLUNTEERS WHO REPRESENT A DESIRE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES

CAN ONE PERSON MAKE IMPACT? 

In a conversation with my mentor, I was reminded of the immense power of a single idea to make a difference not just in one's community but across the globe. This realization sparked a desire to share our presenters' incredible insights daily. We all face moments when we feel lost and need guidance or when we lose our strength and require support. The collection of our presenters serves as a reminder of the people who need that support, whether they are executives, senior managers, direct service providers, educators, practitioners, or parents. 

As someone who has been entrusted with the responsibility of formally changing the name to the 25th International Families and Fathers Conference, my personal goal is to inspire at least one person who feels hopeless, to remind them of their impact, and to help them return to their program and transform it into a high-impact agency. If we can achieve this, we will have made a positive difference in the world. 

IT IS TIME MEET THOSE WHO WILL USHER IN INSPIRATION, INFLUENCE, AND IMPACT

In this blog, I'm sharing the story of my journey with all our site visitors. In just one year, I reached hundreds of thousands through a single social media platform. In October 2023, I was invited to speak as a featured speaker at the 2nd International Men's & Families Conference in Toronto, Canada. The host of the event, Dr. Susan Chuang from Guelph University, Canada, shared that she had targeted me because of the global influence of the Fathers and Families Coalition of America. Additionally, there were opportunities to collaborate with various initiatives to strengthen families and fatherhood in America and internationally.

In October, I had the pleasure of contacting Dr. Alicia Jackson from Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, inviting her to join us as a presenter at our conference. Her passion, purpose, and Dr. Chuang's were essential elements in their roles as Editors of the Conference program. Despite being from different psychology departments at their respective universities, they both brought a depth of influence that was truly inspiring and aligned with the spirit of Ikigai. Additionally, I had the honor of approaching. Andre Harrison, M.A., M.S.T., a Marriage and Family Counselor and Educator, whom I met a decade ago at the Fathers and Families Coalition of America regional institutes in Howard University, Washington D.C. Andre's dynamic personality, coupled with his experience as a grade school educator, marriage and family counselor, and author, made him the perfect choice to be the Director of the Conference. Even though he hails from New York, the other side of our nation, it is vocation and profession, the other two essential elements of Ikigai, that I know he will be able to usher in the jubilee of this conference with amazing volunteers and presenters.

 DAY ONE MORNING WORKSHOP PRESENTERS

I am honored to share a glimpse of the talent of the presenters, starting with  Barbara Coloroso. from Colorado. She is an internationally bestselling author. She has been an internationally recognized speaker and consultant for 53 years. Her expertise lies in parenting, teaching, discipline, positive school climate, bullying, grieving, nonviolent conflict resolution, and restorative justice. Barbara is gracious but also kind, passionate, and highly professional, making her an asset to all those working with children and parents.se working with children and parents.

Amy Lang, MA, from the State of Washington, is a sexual abuse prevention and sexuality expert and parent educator. A sexual health educator for over 27 years, Amy Lang (she/her) provides childhood sexual development and sexual abuse prevention training for early childhood and youth-serving organizations. Her lively, engaging, and down-to-earth style makes these uncomfortable topics easier for folks to learn. Well over 15 years ago, we introduced tough conversation topics, and numbers give facts, with 1 out of 4 and 1 out of 6 girls and boys being sexually abused before 18. Therefore, do not miss out if you are a teacher, parent, or direct family service worker/practitioner!

I am thrilled to introduce a colleague who is a social work professional and an excellent researcher. Dr. R. Anna Hayward, M.S.W., Ph.D., is an associate professor at Stony Brook University School of Social Welfare in New York. She has been the external evaluator of the Long Island Fatherhood Initiative for over ten years. Dr. Hayward's research focuses on fatherhood, including the impact of incarceration on children and families, father involvement in social work interventions, and environmental justice. Our goal is to address disparities in these areas through this workshop.

When I reviewed the two workshops submitted by Dr. Chapman from Phoenix, Arizona, I was excited about the depth of his sessions' impacts. Ovett Chapman, Ph.D. passion is, "Pursuing Justice, Cultivating Potential — A Unifying Force for Educational Equity." Dr. Chapman is a seasoned school psychologist focusing on driving systemic change in educational settings. Dr. Chapman's session brings parents and educators together for parental strategies for the lifelong success of their children in school.

We are excited to announce a new certificate training program, "Trauma & Resilience: Level One,"  starting in 2024. This program is specially designed for Head Start or Fatherhood Practitioners and other family services and social worker professionals. The program will be led by Dr. Narviar Barker Browne, a Licensed Social Worker and author of two books, including "Child Abuse and Neglect: An Interdisciplinary Method of Treatment." With over 40 refereed articles on children, families, and minority health, Dr. Narviar Barker Browne is a highly experienced lecturer at Spelman College, Atlanta, Georgia, and the Director of the Program of Standards for Fathers and Families Coalition of America. Don't miss this opportunity to enhance your skills and knowledge in trauma and resilience.

I am excited to attend the session from  Columbus, Ohio, presenter Dr. Jesse Sanders' session on redefined mental health; Dr. Sanders, also known as Dr. Redefined, will discuss the importance of fatherhood and family units within the justice system. This is crucial for child welfare and criminal justice professionals to ensure strong relationships between fathers and their children. The workshop will explore trauma, inspire personal growth, and help develop strategies to overcome societal pressures.

Have you ever had a conversation with someone for the first time and immediately felt their passion for helping others over the phone? That's exactly how I felt during my initial interaction with Dr. Yvette M. Rose, DNP RN, hailing from Chicago. Dr. Rose's passion is helping Black Fathers find hope after losing a spouse/partner. She is a Professor of Nursing at Olivet Nazarene University (O.N.U.) and a licensed Registered Professional Nurse (RN). Dr. Rose specializes in teaching Mental Health Nursing, Nursing Leadership, and Transcultural Nursing, and she is all set to guide a workshop for all fathers, with a special focus on Black fathers.

Dr. Franklyn Malone, CMFT of Washington, DC, is a true inspiration. His passion for helping men who have lost their way is evident in the work he does through the 100 Fathers, Inc., where he serves as President and C.E.O. Dr. Malone's mission is to empower ordinary men to do extraordinary things. He is a respected national, regional, and local leader in the field of fatherhood and mentoring. He has touched the lives of countless men who thought they were fighting alone, and his dedication to his work is truly remarkable. Commissioner Malone's passion overflows like a cup pouring into the lives of those he helps, and he comes beside each one so they understand they do not fight alone.

In the morning sessions, we are joined by our second presenter from Australia. Ms. Thao Tran,  our colleague from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia,  is the Founder of Ditox, a digital wellness community that helps people improve their online habits. She is a mental health expert from Australia who speaks on topics such as mental strength, resilience, and embracing change through social media.

This conference is a true testament to the abundance of knowledge and opportunities available for parents, practitioners, educators, managers, executives, government officials, and foundation professionals. As David pointed out, every day is packed with experts, diversity, inclusion, and more, all at the center circle. I invite you to sign up for this conference today! I have witnessed so much goodness at this (not event - but experience) international conference over twenty-five years. When you end the conference, you will want it not to end but return year after year. Maybe you join the 25th circle as a volunteer, presenter, attendee, sponsor, advertiser, or exhibitor but join us. 

- James 

25th International Families And Fathers Conference