CONTACT:
Ameena Ali, Ph.D.
Atlanta, Georgia (USA) Regional Coordinator – International Men’s Day
E-Mail: Askdrali@gmail.com
On Sunday, 19 November 2017 – International Men’s Day--, the Atlanta, Georgia (USA) Regional International Men’s Day Coordinator Ameena Ali, Ph.D. moved Incarcerated Men further into the International Men’s Day equation. Dr. Ali orchestrated a panel discussion which gave a voice to Incarcerated Men at a Georgia correctional facility. The incarcerated gentlemen explored a number of issues. One of the issues posed by Dr. Ali to the gentlemen involved the greatest challenge of being a father – whether it was having a child prior to incarceration or having a child being born by its mother after they have been incarcerated. A number of incarcerated gentlemen pointed to being expected to pay child support when they are in prison and/or as soon as they are released. Upon their release from prison they must seek employment. In the interim, they may owe as much as US$12,000 or US$15,000 in child support. If child support payments are not made, these gentlemen will be summoned to Family Court and find themselves standing in front of a judge who will order them to pay child support. They face imprisonment and find themselves in violation of their parole. Parole violations always result in imprisonment.
Dr. Ali, in her role as the International Men’s Day Coordinator for Atlanta, Georgia has proposed a solution. Creating a 529 Pre-Paid College Fund for Incarcerated Fathers who could pay into it funds -- funds as little as US$10.00 or US$15.00 each week -- from their commissary money during their incarceration.
“Not only can Incarcerated Fathers pay into the fund, but their family members can pay money into the fund. When a Father who has created and paid into this fund is summoned to Family Court, he can tell the Judge, ‘Your Honor, I have been saving money to pay child support’, by pointing to the Fund. When the child’s mother complains that she is not being paid child support, the Father can point to the Fund and explain to the mother, ‘This is what I have for you and our child.’ Being in debt to a state or federal authority, in this instance, owing child support, is a violation of parole. Formerly incarcerated individuals who are guilty of a parole violation are sent back to prison and become recidivists. What I am proposing here not only resolves the issue of child support payment for Returning Citizens but helps to finance a child’s education; reduces recidivism; and eases the taxpayer’s burden. After all, it is the taxpayers who foot the bill for recidivism. What I have proposed is not just a model for the City of Atlanta and the State of Georgia, it is a national model,” explained Dr. Ali.
In addition to her leadership role for International Men’s Day, Dr. Ali is a Cross-Cultural Diversity and Inclusion Instructor; a LinkedIn GoodWill Ambassador (www.linkedin.com); the Atlanta, Georgia (USA) Regional International Men’s Day Coordinator; and founder of GA Reproductive Resource Alliance Center for Education and Empowerment (GRRACEE) and A Mother’s Peace which is based in Atlanta, Georgia. Through GRRACEE, Dr. Ali brings empowerment, healing, and key pieces of the puzzle for self-sufficiency and positive transformation to communities courtesy of a myriad of initiatives which include:
· Inclusive Parenting Classes
Inaugurated in Trinidad and Tobago on 19 November 1999 by Jerome Teelucksingh, Ph.D., a Gender Issues Thought Leader, humanitarian, faculty member in the History Department of the University of West Indies in Trinidad and Tobago, a prolific author and poet, International Men’s Day celebrates and honors the contributions and sacrifices of Men -- “everyday men”. The worldwide observance shares a 48-hour partnership with Universal Children’s Day which is observed on 20th November of each year and is endorsed by the United Nations.
Institutions, organizations, and individuals in 82 nations will observe International Men’s Day on Monday, 19 November 2018 under the theme, “Renewing Our Commitment To Men and Boys – Building A Better World For Everyone”. It is a day of observance in which we place our focus on that which unites humanity, giving everyone who wants to celebrate International Men’s Day the opportunity to help work towards the shared objectives of Global and Regional Coordinators which are applied equally to Men and Boys irrespective of their age, ability, social background, ethnicity, sexuality, gender identity, religious belief, and relationship status.
Those objectives are:
· To promote positive male role models; not just movie stars and sportsmen but every day, 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 males 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 all people can grow and reach their full potential.
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