AUTHOR, PLAYWRIGHT, ACTRESS AND FATHERHOOD ADVOCATE MRS. ODETTA WRIGHT DONS MANTLE OF VIRGINIA (USA) REGIONAL COORDINATOR FOR 2010 INTERNATIONAL MEN'S DAY

The International Men’s Day Coordination Committee has announced that Richmond, Virginia native MRS. ODETTA TAMU WRIGHT has donned the mantle of Virginia (USA) Regional Coordinator for 2010 International Men’s Day (www.international-mens-day.com).  Mrs. Wright is an author, playwright, actress, and co-producer of a moving off-off Broadway play and documentary which has become a movement – FATHER FIGURE.  Wright who holds a Bachelor’s degree in Rhetoric and Communications Studies from the University of Virginia and a Master’s Degree in Adult Education from the University of Phoenix has authored over 30 plays and literary works.

Mrs. Wright has appeared in a one-woman show entitled Old Souls which made its inaugural debut at the Edinburgh International Theatre Festival in Scotland A number of her plays have been performed in various community centers – The Empire Theatre, The Firehouse Theatre, and the Carpenter Center in Richmond, Virginia. Wright co-wrote with Hampton University Professor Eleanor Earl, an off-off broadway play, Father Figure, which was showcased at New York City’s Musical Theatreworks and conceived when both Wright and Earl were undergraduate students at the University of Virginia. The off-off broadway play, Father Figure, was expanded into a feature-length documentary and screened at the Cinema Café Art House in Virginia Beach, Virginia in 2007. Both the documentary and play explore how the presence or absence of Fathers in the lives of women greatly influences their career choices and the type of men that they date and marry.

“Mrs. Wright has helped to energize the Global Dialogue on Fatherhood and Men’s Issues through the off-off Broadway play and documentary, Father Figure, which she co-wrote with Hampton University Professor Eleanor Earl. I am looking forward to working with Mrs. Wright and assisting her promote awareness of and participation in 2010 International Men’s Day in Virginia,” remarked Diane A. Sears, the United States Coordinator for 2010 International Men’s Day.

International Men’s Day calls for the people of the world to unite and celebrate 2010 with the theme, 'Our Children .. Our Future’. International Men’s Day will be observed on 19th November 2010. The future of our children depends on positive male role models. The theme ‘Our Children ... Our Future’ celebrates the 48 hour partnership that International Men’s Day has with Universal Children’s Day, which is celebrated on 20th November 2010 and endorsed by the United Nations.

The celebrations of International Men’s Day 2009 were the largest ever global collaboration of men and women to address the challenges and problems that men face. Ireland, Canada, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Australia, India, United States, Singapore, United Kingdom, Malta, South Africa, Georgia, New Zealand, Moldova, Germany, and Holland were a sample of the nations around the world that celebrated and honored the selfless sacrifices of Men and their invaluable contributions to families, communities and society. International Men’s Day 2009 was featured in newspaper headlines, TV stories, magazine articles, blogs, YouTube promos and websites the world over.

International Men’s Day was founded in 1999 by Dr. Jerome Teelucksingh, a History Lecturer at the West Indies University, Trinidad Tobago, and the Chairman of the International Men’s Day Coordination Committee whose membership comprises Warwick Marsh (Australia), Global Coordinator for International Men’s Day, Jason Thompson (Australia), Historian and Global Promotions Coordinator for International Men’s Day, Uma Challa, Coordinator for India - for International Men’s Day, and Diane A. Sears, Coordinator for the United States of America – International Men’s Day.

Dr. Teelucksingh, in 1999, put into place the Core Objectives of International Men’s Day which gives individuals and groups wanting to celebrate International Men’s Day in their own community, the framework and foundation for their celebrations. The Core Objectives of International Men’s Day which were ratified by members of the International Men’s Day Committee in December 2009 are as follows:

During a conference call on 1st December 2009 the International Men’s Day Coordination Committee ratified the following core objectives of International Men’s Day:

• To promote positive male role models; not just movie stars and sports men but everyday,
working class men who are living decent, honest lives.


• To celebrate men’s positive contributions to society, community, family, marriage, child care, and to the environment.


• To focus on men’s health and wellbeing; social, emotional, physical and spiritual.


• To highlight discrimination against men; in areas of social services, social attitudes and expectations, and law.


• To improve gender relations and promote gender equality.


• To create a safer, better world; where people can be safe and grow to reach their full potential.

These core objectives which were put in place in 1999 by Founder, Dr Jerome Teelucksingh, gives individuals and groups wanting to celebrate International Men’s Day in their own community, the framework and foundation for their celebrations.

Individuals and organizations in the State of Virginia who are interested in learning more about 2010 International Men’s Day and how they can participate in the worldwide observance of 2010 International Men’s Day on Friday, 19 November 2010 should contact MRS. ODETTA WRIGHT by sending an e-mail to: odetta_wright@yahoo.com. Further information about International Men’s Day can also be obtained by visiting its website at http://international-mens-day.com.

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