MILWAUKEE, WI - A focus on fathers: Mayor Tom Barrett hosted the city's 13th Annual Fatherhood Summit Friday morning at Greater New Birth Church.
"It's leadership, it brings about structure, discipline and it helps the next generation of men coming up," Kevin Valentine said.
Dozens of dads filled the room at Greater New Birth Church to participate in a variety of workshops supporting their roles as fathers. Some of the resources available to the dads include job training, employment, health, and child support help.
"With these events going on today, the city takes control of that," Valentine said.
Friday's forum is a part of the Milwaukee Fatherhood Initiative (MFI) --a program Mayor Barrett launched in 2005 to increase the number of children with involved, committed fathers.
To date, MFI has served more than 12,000 fathers and reduced over $11 million in child support interest debt. Barrett estimates 1,000 men will attend this year's free, two-day summit.
"This is a very practical forum in that we have many many workshops and many many efforts to help men with challenges that they face in their everyday life," Barrett said.
The Brewers Community Foundation is the presenting sponsor of this year's summit.
