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18 November, 2010

PHILADELPHIA'S INAUGURAL CELEBRATION OF INTERNATIONAL MEN'S DAY HONORS MEN AND FOCUSES ON CHILDREN



CONTACT:
Mr. Gregory T. Walker
Managing Executive Director
The Brothers Network
(267) 334-4897
E-Mail: gregorytwalker@gmail.com


PHILADELPHIA, PA (USA) – 18 November 2010 – The City of Philadelphia’s inaugural observance of International Men’s Day (www.international-mens-day.com) will take the form of two events – an awards and recognition ceremony on Friday, 19 November 2010 at Robin’s Bookstore (www.robinsbookstore.com) at 110-A South Street courtesy of The Brothers Network (www.thebrothersnetwork.org) and a program entitled, “Fathers, Children & Books” on Saturday, 20 November 2010 at 2:00 P.M. at 714 Market Street, 7th Floor, courtesy of a collaboration by and between The Brothers Network (www.thebrothersnetwork.org), The Moonstone Arts Center (www.moonstoneartscenter.org), and The National Comprehensive Center for Fathers (www.nccfamerica.org). Children’s books and their authors – “Snatch” penned by Charles Fuller; “My Name Is Oney Judge”, penned by Diane Turner; and “Beyond The Back Of The Bus”, penned by Sandra Turner-Barnes will bask in the spotlight at The National Comprehensive Center for Fathers on Saturday, 20 November 2010 – Universal Children’s Day.

International Men’s Day honors and celebrates the contributions and sacrifices that men make quietly and unceremoniously to our families, our communities, and our world. 2010 International Men’s Day is being celebrated under the theme “Our Children . . . Our Future” and shares a 48-hour partnership with Universal Children’s Day which is observed worldwide on Saturday, 20 November 2010 and is endorsed by the United Nations.

Philadelphians Larry Robin and Philip Lord, J.D. will be honored at the 2010 International Men’s Day awards and recognition ceremony and reception which will be held on Friday, 19 November 2010 beginning at 3:00 P.M. at Robin’s Book Store at 110-A South 13th Street. Mr. Robin is the owner of Robin’s Book Store, Philadelphia’s largest independently owned bookstore; the Founder of Moonstone, Inc., a non-profit organization; The Celebration of Black Writing which spanned 17 years; The Paul Robeson Festival which had 10 seasons; Philadelphia Ink, an annual event which celebrates writers from Philadelphia who have published a book during a given year; Children’s Ink, an event that celebrates artists and writers who introduce children to the world of books; and Poetry Ink: 100 Poets Read at Robins. Mr. Robin’s creation and production of programs which connect the dots between art and politics and literature and self-empowerment has empowered individuals and communities; invigorated Philadelphia’s creative community; and brought authors, who generally work in isolation, in contact with each other and the reading public. Robin has served on the Boards of the American Bookseller’s Foundation for Free Expression; the Steering Committee of the Read Together Coalition; the Literature Panel of the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts; and the Steering Committee of the Year of the Pennsylvania. He also has served as an advisor to the Mayor’s Commission on Literacy and has worked with a myriad of cultural organizations in Philadelphia arranging author events and book fairs.


Philip M. Lord, J.D. began his legal career as a Legal Services Attorney with the Northwest Tenants Organization and later with Community Legal Services in Philadelphia. During his tenure at Community Legal Services, Mr. Lord managed a law office of 15 attorneys that specialized in housing and group representation. Beginning in 1981 through 2003, Mr. Lord engaged in the private practice of law as a partner in the Commons & Lord law firm. He later became President of the Lord & Haywood, P.C. law firm and his legal practice concentrated on affordable housing development matters which included tax credit transactions. He presented more than 70 community-based non-profit organizations throughout the City of Philadelphia, including several housing cooperatives. For several years, Mr. Lord served as Co-Chair of a federation of community development corporations known as CDC, Inc. Mr. Lord has published articles on the topic of non-profit housing development and he has taught numerous training classes for nonprofit corporations’ staff and board members under the auspices of numerous organizations that include but are not limited to the University of Delaware, The Reinvestment Fund, the Philadelphia Development Program, and the Philadelphia Minority Bar Conference.

Mr. Lord has served, since 2003, as the Executive Director of Tenants Action Group of Philadelphia (TAG) and its successor, the Tenant Union Representative Network (TURN). At TAG and now TURN he has managed organizing, advocacy and tenant support programs. Mr. Lord and his wife Meldine Lord who have been married for 31 years are the parents of two sons – Kito Lord, 29, who is a resident at Yale Medical School and Masai Lord, 26, who is a Teaching Assistant for autistic children

“One of the chief purposes of International Men’s Day is to celebrate true male role models – not celebrities and athletes, but the ordinary heroes whose everyday work elevates and enriches lives. On Friday, 19 November 2010, The Brothers’ Network will join Men and Women around the world in celebrating positive male role models by honoring two gentlemen at our event – Larry Robin, the owner of Moonstone Arts Center and Robin’s Books and Phil Lord, J.D., the Executive Director of the Tenants’ Union Representative Network and a longtime peoples’ advocate. The National Comprehensive Center for Fathers, The Moonstone Arts Center, and The Brothers Network are collaborating on an event – “Fathers, Children & Books” which will take place on Saturday, 20 November 2010 and will focus on children and at the same time commemorate 2010 International Men’s Day and Universal Children’s Day by highlighting children’s books and their authors,” remarked Gregory T. Walker, the Managing Executive Director of The Brothers Network when reached for comment.


International Men’s Day celebrates and honors the ‘every day men’ – men who quietly and unceremoniously go about the business of nurturing efficiently functioning family units, positively shaping the minds and souls of our children – our future – our bridge to the future – and empowering individuals outside of their family units and the communities in which they live and work. Larry Robin and Philip Lord, J.D. are men who have devoted their careers to improving the lives of Philadelphians and making Philadelphia – the nation’s fifth largest metropolitan area – a great place to live and work. And on Saturday, 20 November 2010, Men who are members of The Moonstone Arts Center, and The National Comprehensive Center for Fathers will present ‘Fathers, Children & Books’. As a result, in their own unique way, these Men are helping to positively shape the minds and souls of our children – our future – our bridge to the future,” stated Diane A. Sears, the United States Coordinator for 2010 International Men’s Day and Member of the International Men’s Day Coordination Committee.

For further information about Philadelphia’s inaugural celebration of 2010 International Men’s Day, contact Gregory T. Walker by telephone at 267-334-4897 or send an e-mail at: gregorytwalker@gmail.com.


For further information about International Men’s Day, visit its website at www.international-mens-day.com.

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