(Photo: Ken Harvey, retired Washington Redskins linebacker; Frank Lancaster, DCHA Resident Commissioner; Marvin Turner, Director of the HUD DC Field Office; Adrianne Todman, Executive Director, DC Housing Authority; Deborah A. Hernandez, General Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Public and Indian Housing, HUD; Judge Arthur L. Bennett, Sr., National Executive Director , National African American Drug Policy Coalition; Ron Ashford.) Photo found on Fatherhood.gov

The District of Columbia Housing Authority kicked off the 2011 Father's Day weekend by hosting a “Call to Fathers Breakfast”, and then held a day-long program including community leaders and guest speakers, including The Alliance of Concerned Men's Executive Director, Tyrone C. Parker and President, Arthur Rush. NFL football players Ken Harvey, Olandis Gary and two time World Heavyweight champion and former undisputed heavyweight champion Riddick Bowe and daughter joined the celebration. The Alliance of Concerned Men participated in this historic event and helped select some of the fathers and organizations honored at the event, including Keith Tariq Cunningham of Keep it Real Where Real is Due, LLC, Franklyn Malone, President of 100 Fathers, Inc., the Union Temple-based community group Men of the Temple, and parenting fathers and community residents Raul Stephenson, Malcolm Jordan, Roddy Jordan, Robert Asa Nelson and Greg Hill.

This Saturday event was part of an ACM week-end celebration of fathers and men who uplift the community.

ACM Celebrates Fatherhood at Union Temple

On Sunday, June 19 at 11am, The Alliance of Concerned Men, in partnership with The DC Housing Authority, 100 Fathers, Inc., Keep It Real, Where Real Is Due, LLC,and Daddy Corner presented an interactive family event at Union Temple Baptist Church celebrating families and fatherhood. Over 100 convened to uplift and recognize both biological dads and men who serve the community's youth, even if not biologically parents.

"This event is near and dear to my heart and very important in this day and age," said Tyrone C. Parker, Executive Director of the Alliance of Concerned Men. Parker, a 2007 Petra fellow, started The Alliance in 1995 as a way to mediate gang violence and engage young adults struggling to interact positively within society.

Since 1991, The Alliance has extended its work to include supporting ex-offenders and providing services in mentoring and family engagement.

Click to Learn more about the Alliance of Concerned Men's Fatherhood Initiatives.