September 2, 2005

For Immediate Release

MEDIA ADVISORY

IL Governor Rod Blagojevich, Chicago Mayor Richard Daley and Other Elected Officials Lead One Million Fathers Back to School

www.millionfathermarch.org

WHO:
Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, Illinois Senate President Emil Jones, Jr. and Chicago Mayor Richard Daley are serving as honorary chairmen of the Million Father March 2005. Other elected officials showing their support for fathers and men being actively involved in the education of children who will participate in the Million Father March 2005 include: Carrie Austin, Alderman, Chicago, 34th Ward; Shirley Coleman, Alderman, Chicago, 16th Ward; Jacqueline Y. Collins, State Senator, Illinois, 16th District; Rey Colón, Alderman, Chicago, 35th Ward; Barbara Curry, State Representative, Illinois, 25th District; Monique Davis, State Representative, Illinois, 27 District; Will Davis, State Representative, Illinois, 30th District; Brian Doherty, Alderman, Chicago, 41st Ward; Constance Howard, State Representative, Illinois, 34th District; Chuck Jefferson, State Representative, Illinois, 67th District; Kevin D. Leavy, City Councilor, Beloit, Wisconsin; Kimberly A. Lightford, State Senator, Illinois, 4th District; Fredrenna Lyle, Alderman, Chicago, 6th Ward; Larry Morrison, Mayor, Rockford, Illinois; Toni Preckwinkle, Alderman, Chicago, 4th Ward; Kwame Raoul, State Senator, Illinois, 13th District; Larry B. Seabrook, Council Member, New York City; Helen Schiller, Alderman, Chicago, 46th Ward; Aaron Schock, State Representative, Illinois, 92nd District; Bobbie Steele, County Commissioner, Cook County, Illinois, 2nd District; Todd Stroger, Alderman, Chicago, 8th Ward, Larry Suffredin, County Commissioner, Cook County, Illinois, 13th District; Eddie Washington, State Representative, Illinois, 60th District; and Henderson Yarbrough, Mayor, Maywood, Illinois.

WHAT:

The National Demonstration School for the Million Father March will be Pershing Magnet School with four hundred fathers and men taking children to school on the first day. The Million Father March is an initiative launched by Chicago non-profit, The Black Star Project. It consists of fathers, uncles, grandfathers, brothers, cousins, step fathers, foster fathers, and other significant male caregivers taking students to school on the first day as the beginning of a yearlong commitment to their involvement in the education of children. Elected officials will participate at various schools (call The Black Star Project for specific locations).

WHEN:

Tuesday September 6, 2005 at 8:15 am.

WHERE:

Pershing School at 3113 South Rhodes Avenue

WHY:

A father who actively participates in the educational and social development life of a child is invaluable and irreplaceable! Research shows that children whose fathers take active roles in their educational lives earn better grades, get better test scores, enjoy school more and are more likely to graduate from high school and attend college. Additionally, children have fewer behavior problems when fathers speak and listen to their children regularly and are active in their lives. Good fathers are part of effective parent teams and are critical to strong family structures. Strong family structures produce children who are more centered, academically proficient and socially developed and are a valuable asset to their communities. Better parents produce better communities, better schools and better students!

www.millionfathermarch.org

A list of cities registered to participate with more cities to follow:

· Albany, New York - Herbert McLaughin at herbmac@nycap.rr.com
· Ansonia, Connecticut – Rory Edwards at roryeast@aol.com
· Atlanta, Georgia – Lorrie Green at lgreen555@yahoo.com
· Auckland, New Zealand – Jim Bailey at Jim@HandsOnEqualParent.org.nz
· Baltimore, Maryland – NAACP Baltimore City Branch/Marvin ‘Doc’ Cheatham at pbsdsc124@aol.com
· Bellwood, Illinois – Illinois State Senator Kimberly A. Lightford at senatorlightford@sbcglobal.net
· Berkeley, Illinois - – Illinois State Senator Kimberly A. Lightford at senatorlightford@sbcglobal.net
· Berwyn, Illinois – Illinois State Senator Kimberly A. Lightford at senatorlightford@sbcglobal.net
· Bridgeport, Connecticut – Rory Edwards at roryeast@aol.com
· Bristol, Connecticut – Rory Edwards at roryeast@aol.com
· Broadview, Illinois – Illinois State Senator Kimberly A. Lightford at senatorlightford@sbcglobal.net
· Calumet Park, Illinois – Rep. Will Davis at mhardy30@sbcglobal.net
· Cambridge, Massachusetts – Kathy Reddick at cambridgenaacp@att.net
· Champaign, Illinois – Pastor Vincent Elam at Preacherve@aol.com
· Chattanooga, Tennessee – Sue Porter at sueporter@swcchatt.net
· Chicago, Illinois – Colin Harris at blackstar2003@ameritech.net
· Chicago Heights, Illinois – Andrew Bufkin at blackstar2003@ameritech.net
· Cleveland, Ohio – Bridge the Gap Network/Dr. Patricia Ackerman at chalkinc@aol.com
· Columbus, Ohio – Professor Leon Peacock at testscorerise@yahoo.com
· Danbury, Connecticut - Rory Edwards at roryeast@aol.com
· Davenport, Iowa – Ida Johnson at imj62@aol.com
· Denver, Colorado – Gloriadine Smith at GSmith@Iliff.edu
· Detroit, Michigan – Chris Crabtree at mrcdccc2005@yahoo.com; Deborah Henderson at emailus@Detroitparentnetwork.org
· Dixmoor, Illinois – State Representative Will Davis at mhardy30@sbcglobal.net
· Dolton, Illinois - State Representative Will Davis at mhardy30@sbcglobal.net
· Dothan, Alabama – Sharon Georges at blackstar1000@ameritech.net
· East Cleveland, Ohio – Bridge the Gap Network/Dr. Patricia Ackerman at chalkinc@aol.com
· Eau Claire, Michigan – Mario Hillman at rio@destinerecords.com
· Evanston, Illinois – Lucia Norris at SEPA20025@aol.com
· Forest Park – Illinois State Senator Kimberly A. Lightford at senatorlightford@sbcglobal.net
· Goldsboro, North Carolina – Janice Fields at jfields@waynecc.edu
· Greenwich, Connecticut -- Rory Edwards at roryeast@aol.com
· Greater Hartford, Connecticut- Rory Edwards at roryeast@aol.com
· Greater New Haven, Connecticut – Rory Edwards at roryeast@aol.com
· Hamtramck, Michigan - Deborah Henderson at emailus@Detroitparentnetwork.org
· Harvey, Illinois - State Representative Will Davis at mhardy30@sbcglobal.net
· Highland Park, Michigan - Deborah Henderson at emailus@Detroitparentnetwork.org
· Hillside, Illinois – Illinois State Senator Kimberly A. Lightford at senatorlightford@sbcglobal.net
· Hilo, Hawaii – Douglas Capogrossi, Ph.D. at dcapogrossi@akamaiuniversity.us
· Jersey City, New Jersey - Letitia Sweat at letitiasweat@aol.com
· Las Vegas, Nevada – Jean Marie Freeney at jmfreeney@earthlink.net
· Long Beach, California – Richard Love at LBTimes@aol.com
· Los Angeles, California – John P. Hamilton, Ed.D. Johnphamilton@aol.com; Brother Cliff Pruitt at Afrikaspirit@aol.com; Sharmaine Parker at sparker62@sbcglobal.net
· Macon, Georgia – Cleopatra Simpson at pumpkin_31211@yahoo.com
· Markham, Illinois – Andrew Bufkin at blackstar2003@ameritech.net
· Maywood, Illinois – Illinois State Senator Kimberly A. Lightford at senatorlightford@sbcglobal.net
· Melrose Park, Illinois – R. Jerry Criss at mrpositive1@aol.com; Illinois State Senator Kimberly A. Lightford at senatorlightford@sbcglobal.net
· Meriden / Wallingford , Connecticut – Rory Edwards at roryeast@aol.com
· Middlesex County, Connecticut – Rory Edwards at roryeast@aol.com
· Minneapolis, Minnesota – William Moore at William.Moore@co.hennepin.mn.us; Kenneth Foxworth kennethfoxworth568@msn.com
· Mobile, Alabama – Board President David Thomas at dthomas@bishop.edu
· Moline, Illinois – Stuart Scott, Sr. at sscott@scottcountyiowa.com
· Nashville Tennesse – Sue Porter at sueporter@swcchatt.net
· New York City, New York – Council Member Larry B. Seabrook at pajenkins@att.net; Henry Terry at THenry22@nycboe.net; Derek Phillips at jormapro1@cs.com
· Newark, New Jersey – Ernie Simmons at dynastyintlceo@yahoo.com; Letitia Sweat at letitiasweat@aol.com
· New Britain, Connecticut – Rory Edwards at roryeast@aol.com
· New Canaan, Connecticut – Rory Edwards at roryeast@aol.com
· New London, Connecticut – Rory Edwards at roryeast@aol.com
· North Riverside – Illinois State Senator Kimberly A. Lightford at senatorlightford@sbcglobal.net
· Norwalk, Connecticut –Rory Edwards at roryeast@aol.com
· Norwich, Connecticut – Rory Edwards at roryeast@aol.com
· Oakland, California – Yetunde Reeves at YetundeR@aol.com
· Oak Park, Illinois – Lynn Allen at LAllen2285@aol.com; Illinois State Senator Kimberly A. Lightford at senatorlightford@sbcglobal.net
· Oberlin, Ohio - Laurence E. Nevels at lenevels@oberlin.net
· Park Forest, Illinois – Wendell Mosby - wendell@wimpwear.com
· Phoenix, Illinois - State Representative Will Davis at mhardy30@sbcglobal.net
· Prince George’s County, Maryland – Dr. Walter Dozier at Wldozier@co.pg.md.us
· Portland, Oregon – Charles McGee at charles.mcgee@co.multnomah.or.us
· Quincy, Illinois - Superintendent Thomas Leahy at leahyth@qps.org; Michael K. Smith at smithmk@quincy.edu
· Raleigh, North Carolina - Wandria Garris at wgarris@netzero.com
· Richmond, Virginia – Julia Terry at stella332@aol.com
· Riverdale, Illinois - State Representative Will Davis at mhardy30@sbcglobal.net
· River Forest – Illinois State Senator Kimberly A. Lightford at senatorlightford@sbcglobal.net
· Riverside – Illinois State Senator Kimberly A. Lightford at senatorlightford@sbcglobal.net
· Robbins, Illinois - State Representative Will Davis at mhardy30@sbcglobal.net
· Rockford, Illinois – Stuart “AJ” Scott at ajblackstar@sbcglobal.net
· Roosevelt, New York – Clifton Edwards at cliftoneasy@yahoo.com
· San Diego, California – Rodney L. West at MwalimuRodney@cs.com
· Schenectady, New York _ Ronald Wood at ron.wood@schenectadycounty.com
· Stamford, Connecticut – Rory Edwards at roryeast@aol.com
· Syracuse, New York – Ernest C. Wood at ewood003@twcny.rr.com
· Washington, D.C. – Abeo F. Anderson at abeo_anderson@yahoo.com
· Waterbury, Connecticut – Rory Edwards at roryeast@aol.comWaukegan, Illinois – Rosalind Davis at rdavis@yahoo.com