21 August, 2026

HOUSE OF UMOJA, INC. LAUNCHES PHILADELPHIA'S 2026 NATIONAL MILLION FATHER MARCH OBSERVANCE ON MONDAY, 24 AUGUST 2026 -- THE FIRST DAY OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PHILADELPHIA'S 2026-2027 ACADEMIC YEAR UNDER THE THEME “HOW IS THE VILLAGE? HOW ARE THE CHILDREN?”

CONTACT:

Queen Mother Falaka Fattah

Chief Executive Officer and President

House Of Umoja, Inc.

Advisor – 2026 National Million Father March

(215) 473-5893

E-Mail: falakafattah@aol.com

Mr. Anthony Bannister-Fattah

Coordinator, 2026 National Million Father March

House of Umoja, Inc.

(215) 473-5893

E-Mail: falakafattah@aol.com

HOUSE OF UMOJA, INC. LAUNCHES PHILADELPHIA'S 2026 NATIONAL MILLION FATHER MARCH OBSERVANCE ON MONDAY, 24 AUGUST 2026 -- THE FIRST DAY OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PHILADELPHIA'S 2026-2027 ACADEMIC YEAR UNDER THE THEME “HOW IS THE VILLAGE? HOW ARE THE CHILDREN?”

PHILADELPHIA, PA (USA) – 21 August 2026 – Marking its nineteenth year as the official organizing and leadership entity for the National Million Father March (https://fathersincorporated.com/million-fathers-march/) in the City of Philadelphia, the House of Umoja, Inc. (www.houseofumoja.net), a globally recognized institution, launches Philadelphia's observance of the 2026 National Million Father March on Monday, 24 August 2026 –the first day of the School District of Philadelphia's 2026-2027 academic year. It is estimated that approximately 113,735 children are enrolled in schools in the Philadelphia School District (https://schoolprofiles.philasd.org/district/demographics) which adopted a US$4,600,000,000.00 operating budget in May 2026. “How Is The Village? How Are The Children?” has been selected as the theme for the City of Philadelphia's observance of the 2026 National Million Fathers March.

Under the theme of “How Is The Village? How Are The Children?”, the House Of Umoja, Inc. is issuing an urgent “Call To All Fathers” in all communities and neighborhoods throughout the City of Philadelphia to participate in the observance of 2026 National Fathers March by escorting their child to school on Monday, 24 August 2026. Fathers in all communities and neighborhoods throughout the City of Philadelphia are being encouraged to exercise their role as the Leader of their Family Unit and their child's Liaison to the outside world – the Village, by

1. Meeting the teachers who will be educating their child and their child's principal. Principals are responsible for setting a vision for student learning; managing staff; maintaining safe and sanitary building environments that are free of rodent and insect infestation; where bathrooms utilized by students and staff have functioning toilets, faucets that are functional and provide both hot and cold water, and equipped with adequate supplies of soap, toilet paper, and paper towels; and connecting school communities with resources

2. Establishing a collaborative working relationship with their child's teachers and principals that is designed to help their child succeed academically.

3. Obtaining a copy of their child's academic roster and the 2026-2027 academic year calendar for their child's school.

4. Checking their child's homework on a daily basis.

5. Engaging their child in discussions about what they learned in school and their interactions with their teachers and other students in their school on a daily basi

6. Monitoring their child's literacy skills to ensure that their child is reading and writing at a level that is one grade beyond their current grade level,

7. Reading to their child and having their child read to them.

8. Evaluating their child's test scores on the Pennsylvania System Of School Assessment (PSSA) annual statewide standardized examinations that is administered to students in Grades 3 through 8 in every school district throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, including the School District of Philadelphia. The PSSA examinations measure the level at which students enrolled in Grades 3 through 8 in school districts throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, including the School District of Philadelphia, are performing in English Language Arts (ELA) – reading, reading comprehension, and writing; Mathematics; and Science.

The City of Philadelphia is our Village. All students enrolled in the Philadelphia School District are Our Children. How is the village? How are Our Children – the future leaders, husbands, fathers, wives, and mothers of the Village – the City of Philadelphia? Are Our Children doing well in school?

Let's look at the 2025 Keystone Examination (https://www.pa.gov/agencies/edu cation/programs-and-services/instruction/elementary-and-secondary-education/assessment-and-accountability/keystone-exams) results for Our Children who are enrolled in the 11^th Grade in schools throughout the School District of Philadelphia. Administered annually to students enrolled in the 11^th Grade in school districts throughout the Commonwealth, the Keystone Examination, is one of the components required for high school graduation in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and assesses Our Children's proficiency in Algebra I, Biology, and Literature.

2025 Keystone Examination Proficiency Rates For 11^th Grade Students Enrolled In Schools In The School District Of Philadelphia

Algebra 1 Proficiency Rate

Caucasian Students – 27.6%

Black Students – 12.2%

Hispanic Students – 12.4%

Asian Students – 37.0%

American Indian Students – 35.0%

Biololgy Proficiency Rate

Caucasian Students – 30.0%

Black Students – 17.0%

Hispanic Students – 17.1%

Asian Students – 36.3%

American Indian Students – 30.0%

Literature Proficiency Rate

Caucasian Students – 50.0%

Black Students – 36.7%

Hispanic – 36.5%

Asian Students – 52.7%

American Indian Students – 72.2%

Clearly, the Village and Our Children are inextricably enmeshed in a nightmarish educational crisis. The 2026 National Million Father March offers tools to Fathers – the Leader of the Family Unit – and Our Children's Liaison to the outside world – the Village – to extricate the Village and Our Children from the current nightmarish educational crisis and create pathways to academic success for Our Children.

Inaugurated in 2003 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois under the auspices of the Black Star Project (www.blackstarproject.com, the National Million Father March is the brainchild of the late Mr. Phillip Jackson that provides Fathers from diverse backgrounds and geographic locations with a collaborative vehicle to proactively advocate for the academic success of their children. For further information about the National Million Father March which is now orchestrated by Fathers Incorporated, visit the website of Fathers Incorporated at www.fathersincorporated.com or send an electronic mail communication to info@fathersincorporated.com.

Established in 1968, the House of Umoja, Inc. (www.houseofumoja.net) is an acclaimed global institution that has, for over five decades, designed and implemented timeless Global Models for eradicating violence, fostering community development, creating economic sustainability, and addressing many of the key challenges that prevent boys and adolescent males from reaching their full potential and maturing into productive and successful adults. Its successful track record of positively transforming the lives of approximately 3,000 male adolescents and reducing gang violence, moved universities and institutions to seek the House of Umoja, Inc.’s expertise. The Office of Juvenile Justice and Prevention and the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (www.cdc.gov) were among the institutions that sought the House of Umoja, Inc.’s expertise on gang violence reduction, youth programming, and community development. Former United States Presidents the late Honorable James Earl Carter, Jr. and the late Honorable Ronald Wilson Reagan recognized the House of Umoja, Inc. for its pioneering work that has been documented in published articles such as “A Summons To Life,” by Robert Woodson of the American Enterprise Institute (www.aei.org) in 1981 and “The Violent Juvenile Offender,” by Paul DeMuro and Richard Allison of the National Council On Crime and Delinquency (www.nccdglobal.org), in 1994.

For further information about the House Of Umoja, Inc., visit its website at www.houseofumoja.net; call (215) 473-5893l or send an electronic mail communication to falakafattah@aol.com.

01 July, 2026

DAYTON, OHIO SONGWRITER, AUTHOR, PUBLISHER, AND AWARD-WINNING FILM MAKER MRS. LENA FIELDS-ARNOLD RELEASES PATRIOTIC ANTHEM: "AMERICA (SHE'S MY GIRL)" IN CELEBRATION OF THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

America (She’s My Girl)

America (She’s My Girl) Extended Remix

Dayton Songwriter Releases Patriotic Anthem "America (She's My Girl)" in Celebration of America's 250th Anniversary

Original Song Invites Americans to Celebrate Their Nation While Acknowledging Its History and Looking Toward a Better Future

DAYTON, OHIO — As America prepares to celebrate its 250th birthday, Dayton native and author and songwriter Lena Fields-Arnold is inviting listeners to reflect on the nation's past, embrace its promise, and unite around a message of hope through her new original song, "America (She's My Girl)."

Now available on all major streaming platforms, America (She's My Girl) is more than a patriotic anthem; it's a heartfelt reflection on what it means to love a country that is both extraordinary and imperfect.

The inspiration for the song came from an unexpected source.

"I found myself watching videos of visitors from around the world who had traveled to the United States for the World Cup," Fields-Arnold explained. "It was fascinating to hear people from other countries rave about America; our diversity, our landscapes, our people, and the opportunities they saw here. It made me stop and think about how often we forget to appreciate what we have."

That reflection sparked the idea for a song that would not only celebrate America but also acknowledge the complexities of its history.

"I also wanted to write a song to remind my children what is great about America," she said. "But I wanted to do it honestly. It was a complex task because I wanted to balance the good with the bad. The song isn't designed to erase the pain or ignore the difficult parts of our history. Rather, it's meant to encourage us to move past that pain, learn from it, and work together to make this country even better over the next 250 years."

As someone of mixed ancestry whose heritage is primarily Black American, Fields-Arnold says authenticity was essential throughout the songwriting process.

"It was important that I acknowledge that perspective," she said. "America has not always lived up to its ideals, and that truth deserves to be recognized. At the same time, I am an American. I love this country. As the song says, 'America isn't perfect, but she's still my favorite girl.' That lyric really captures the heart of the song."

Rather than offering blind patriotism, America (She's My Girl) celebrates resilience, progress, and the belief that Americans are strongest when they come together despite their differences.

The release comes at a time when the nation is preparing to commemorate America250, the semiquincentennial celebration marking 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Fields-Arnold hopes the song becomes part of that conversation.

"My hope is that people from every background can hear this song and remember that loving your country doesn't mean pretending it's perfect," she said. "It means believing it's worth improving. Patriotism and honesty can exist together."

Blending heartfelt lyrics with an uplifting melody, America (She's My Girl) encourages listeners to celebrate the nation's achievements while embracing the shared responsibility of shaping its future.

Listen Today

America (She's My Girl) is now streaming on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, iTunes, and other major digital music platforms.

Listeners can also watch the official lyric video on YouTube by scanning the accompanying QR code or visiting:

America (She’s My Girl)

America (She’s My Girl) Extended Remix

As America looks ahead to its next 250 years, Fields-Arnold hopes her latest release will inspire conversations about unity, gratitude, and the enduring promise of the American dream.

"This is what happens when creativity meets patriotism."

About Lena Fields-Arnold

Lena Fields-Arnold is a Dayton, Ohio-based songwriter, author, and creative entrepreneur whose work explores themes of hope, resilience, faith, social awareness, and the shared human experience. Through music, storytelling, and publishing, she seeks to inspire meaningful conversations while creating art that entertains, challenges, and uplifts audiences of all backgrounds.

Media Contact:

Emperor Publishing LLC

emperorpublishing@yahoo.com

937-818-6523

Listen to "America (She's My Girl)" today on your favorite streaming platform.

]Now available on all major streaming platforms, America (She's My Girl) is more than a patriotic anthem; it's a h