On Sept. 29, Project IMPACT and the Compton/Watts Interfaith Collaborative were joined by a coalition of agencies with the Million Father March in our 4th Annual Back to School Celebration. The celebration began with a march from the Watts-Willlowbrook Boys and Girls Club in Watts and ended at Mona Park in the City of Compton. Along the 1.5 mile march route, fathers and sons and others joining the march could be heard chanting,
“A million fathers, with one mind/Taking care of our kids, on the front line/I don’t know but I’ve been told/Fathers are standing strong and bold/Standing together for better or worse/Letting you know our kids come first.”
The day also included a backpack distribution, groceries, health and education support services and more. “We’re not just blowing through the community with a high profile event, this was a moment that has become a movement. We’re alerting the community of services and programs that have the capacity to walk our kids through the paces of their development and success,” said Dr. Matt Harris, executive director.
As a result of Project IMPACT’s work, the Fathers & Families Coalition of America, Members of the Board of Directors and the President’s Volunteer Service Awards Points of Light Foundation will honor the organization Nov. 2 along with others with a National Call to Service Volunteer Award from the foundation. The awards recognize years of contributions to make children a priority, a light for many fathers, and giving strength and encouragement to organizations and peers to reduce the impacts of father absenteeism.
Project IMPACT is a related ministry of the Pacific Southwest Region of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
