Who: Street Positive, Concerned Black Men of Los Angeles, Fathers Time, Black Star Project, Kool As Nerdz, First Fathers, DangerMan, DMTL, H.O.O.P Foundation, Cease Fire L.A., PPCC, City Lites Network Inc, Brother II Brother Mentoring and other community organizations.
What: Fathers Against Child Abuse & Neglect + Preventing Sex Trafficking: Daddy’s Home.
When: April 19, 2014 @ 1pm PDT.
Where: Kipp Academy of Opportunity. 7019 Vaness Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90047.Why: Child abuse and neglect in America has hit epidemic proportions. The total lifetime cost of dealing with child maltreatment is a staggering $124 billion annually. Additionally, 30% of abused children will abuse their own; child abuse occurs at every socioeconomic-economic level, across all ethnic and cultural lines, within all religions and education levels. When considering African Americans, although 14.2% of the U.S. population, they account for more than 40% of youth in foster care; black children are 4 times more likely than whites to be in foster care.
Sex trafficking currently generates $32 billion annually and has a direct connection of impact on those physically, emotionally or sexually abused; average age of child becoming victim of sex trafficking is 13 yrs old.
The need for significantly increased prevention and early intervention has caught the attention of a number of active and distinct fatherhood engagement groups moving to take an active and progressive role in child safety.
Cost: Free
Award-winning Street Positive CEO, Terry Boykins, has been tapped to spear-head “Fathers Against Child Abuse & Neglect” campaign ahead of April’s National Child Abuse Prevention Month. He will work alongside Mr. Jason McCuller, President of Concerned Black Men of Los Angeles, to execute the event. The campaign is looking to engage 1000 fathers and supporters throughout the Greater Los Angeles area. However, organizers are reaching out to all fathers nationwide to join the effort.
Complimenting the campaign is a concerted effort by fathers to build impressionable relationships with their daughters in the fight against sex trafficking, low self-esteem and paternal abandonment.
On Jan. 20, 2014, Street Positive added to its numerous commendations when awarded the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr “Community Service Award” by the Inland Empire Concerned African American Churches (IECAAC). Street Positive has participated in numerous education conferences, community forums, radio shows, youth summits and mental health symposiums to address the emotional and economic impact of child abuse and neglect in America. In 2013, Street Positive was selected by Native Challenge to address key educational, cultural and emotional needs of Native American youth through mentoring; Boykins recently presented on parent and community engagement at the California African American Administrators and Superintendents (CAAASA) Professional Development Education Summit in Sacramento, CA.
On April 19 “Fathers Against Child Abuse & Neglect”, hosted by Concerned Black Men of Los Angeles (CBMLA), will feature live entertainment, panel discussions, resources, refreshments and a special book signing of “A Fragile Child’s Cry” by H. L. Stampley. Mr. Stampley, an adoptive father of two severely disabled and neglected boys affected by child abuse, resides in Memphis, TN.
Those wishing to pledge support for “Fathers Against Child Abuse & Neglect” , by requesting a copy of “A Fragile Child’s Cry” can do so by visiting www.streetpositive.com.
Request to have Street Positive and Mr. Boykins present on youth related topics can be made by contacting: (909) 880-9427. Or, by visiting: www.streetpositive.com.