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18 November, 2011






PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA (USA) JOINS CITIES IN 63 NATIONS WORLDWIDE IN OBSERVING 2011 INTERNATIONAL MEN'S DAY



PHILADELPHIA, PA (USA) -- The Honorable Michael A. Nutter, Mayor of the City of Philadelphia, has issued a Proclamation which recognizes 2011 International Men's Day and designates Saturday, November 19, 2011, as "International Men's Day" throughout the City of Philadelphia. Under Mr. Gregory T. Walker’s leadership in his role as the Philadephia, Pennsylvania (USA) Coordinator for 2011 International Men’s Day, the City of Philadelphia will join cities in 63 nations around the world in observing International Men’s Day (www.international-mens-day.com) under the theme “Giving Boys The Best Possible Start In Life”.

Mr. Walker is facilitating a reception at 12:00 P.M. on Saturday, 19 November 2011 at Moonstone Arts Center, 110A South 13th Street, Philadephia, PA 19107. The reception will honor the work of three individuals -- Donna Frisby-Greenwood, Program Director for Philadelphia at the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation; Kofi Asante, President and CEO National Comprehensive Center for Fathers; and Simon Hauger, an engineer turned inner-city high school Mathematics and Science teacher.



Donna Frisby-Greenwood is Program Director for Philadelphia at the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. She joined Knight after 5 years as Director of College and Career Awareness and GEAR UP for The School District of Philadelphia’s Secondary Education Reform Division. Ms. Frisby-Greenwood was named Executive Director of Inner-City Games Philadelphia (now After-School All-Stars) by then ICGF National Chairman, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger after seeing her speak on Urban Youth Leadership Development at The World Affairs Council’s 50th Anniversary. Prior to After-School All-Stars, Ms. Frisby-Greenwood served as Executive Director for Rock the Vote, a national non-partisan, non-profit organization dedicated to protecting freedom of speech and educating and motivating young people to participate in the political process. Frisby-Greenwood began her professional career as a Philadelphia 4-H Extension Agent with Penn State Cooperative Extension and she co-founded along with State Senator Vincent Hughes, Children First, Inc. where she also served as executive director. Frisby-Greenwood’s passion for youth afforded her the opportunity to serve as a National Urban Fellow in the Clinton Administration under HUD Secretary, Henry Cisneros; as well as study youth civic engagement in South Africa as a Theresa Hoover Fellow and the influence of popular culture on youth in Turkey as an Eisenhower Fellow.



Kofi Asante is President and CEO National Comprehensive Center for Fathers. With over 30 years of experience in the Arts and Humanities and Human Service field, and being the recipient of numerous awards and State and City proclamations, Kofi’s life mission is to make a difference. His “Village” concept and mentality has garnered him tremendous success and respect within his community and abroad. Recently appointed to the Mayor’s 2020 Commission on Reentry, Mayor’s Commission for African American Males and a vital member of the Philadelphia Council on Fathers and Families, his longstanding acknowledgements include the 2011 Outstanding Community Leadership Award (Sammy Awards) by laborers Local 332, Community Leader Award from Maternity Care Coalition, 2008 Isaiah Award for Outstanding Justice and Correcting Oppression bestowed by the Columbia University Teacher’s College, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Community Leadership Awards, the 2007 Ernest E. Jones Community Leadership Award and the 2006 recipient of the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations Chairman’s Award, and the list goes on. Mr. Asante is also a 2006 graduate of Bryn Mawr College’s School of Social Work NELI Fellowship for non-profit executives.



Simon Hauger is an engineer turned inner-city high school math and science teacher. He began the Hybrid X Team at West Philadelphia High School 13 years ago to engage his students in math, science and engineering. The students in this after-school program have won multiple national competitions with the hybrid vehicles they designed and built. Their vehicles have outperformed top Universities and corporations. In 2010, the team was honored at the White House. The innovative approach to education that powered the Hybrid X Team to victory is the basis for a new school that Mr. Hauger and his colleagues have created. The Sustainability Workshop challenges students to solve the world’s most pressing problems, and organizes teaching and learning in service of doing so. Hauger and his wife have three wonderful children.



Diane A. Sears, the United States Coordinator for 2011 International Men's Day and a member of the International Men's Day Coordination Committee where she represents the United States will join the celebration of our distinguished honorees. Ms. Sears also serves as a member the University Council for Fatherhood and Men’s Studies Program at Akamai University in Hilo, Hawaii where she advises the President of Akamai University on Fatherhood and Men’s issues. She is also a member of The Boys Initiative’s National Affinity Network which is based in Washington, D.C.


Founded in 1999 by Jerome Teelucskingh, Ph.D., a faculty member in the History Department at the University of West Indies in Trinidad and Tobago; Chairman of the International Men’s Day Coordination Committee, a global think tank; and humanitarian, International Men’s Day (www.international-mens-day.com) celebrates and honors the contributions that Men – “every day” Men – make to our families, our communities, and our world. International Men’s Day shares a 48-hour partnership with Universal Children’s Day which is observed worldwide on 20 November of each year and is endorsed by the United Nations.

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CONTACT:   Queen Mother Falaka Fattah President and Chief Executive Officer House of Umoja, Inc. (215) 473-5893 E-Mail:  falakafattah@aol.co...