P R O J E C T S
The National Latino and Fatherhood and Family Institute (a division of NCN) is pleased to announce the launching of the National Boys and Men of Color Institute (NBMCI). NBMCI will bring together leading elders, experts, organizations and community based agencies that have a vested interest in improving the lives of boys and men of color as a way to improve the well-being and health of communities. Guided by Jerry Tello, a leading expert in the field. Click Here to find out more.
This project is made possible by grants from The California Endowment and The W.K. Kellogg Foundation.
Respetar y Leer /Respect and Read Project
The National Compadres Network (NCN), in conjunction with the National Latino Fatherhood and Family Institute (NLFFI) has launched a nationwide effort.
The overall goal of this effort is to challenge Hombres (men) on three levels:
Reduce the incidence of domestic violence in Latino homes. There is a need for men to collectively Stand Up against domestic violence. Among many of our communities, safety and security are major issues. This safety and security must begin in the home, where in the traditional sense of Latino culture, "respeto" (respect) for “las mujeres” (women) is a major element of family harmony.
Increase the positive involvement of Latino Males with the children of our community. Through reading, storytelling and positive involvement of fathers, grandfathers, uncles, older brothers, Compadres and other significant males in the lives of children in the community. There is also the need for men to Sit Down and spend positive time with their children.
Increase the high school graduation rate of Latino Children. The dropout rate among Latino children is one of the highest for any group, both locally and nationally, and reading, along with positive male involvement, can become a major factor in combating this statistic. Encouraging fathers, grandfathers, big brothers, and uncles to sit down and share positive stories, songs, games, and reading to children is a way of promoting literacy, culture diversity, as well as nurturing a positive relationship.
This effort was kicked off the week of Father’s Day
June 9, 1997 with the following objectives:
☀ Reaching at least 100,000 males and 100,000 children locally and and across the nation.
☀ A public information campaign where presentations are conducted and information is distributed to reclaim the true sense of being "Un Hombre Noble" ( A Noble Man).
☀ Dispel the myth that domestic violence is a part of the true traditional Latino culture. It is not!
☀ Encourage those struggling with this issue to seek assistance, by acknowledging that the pain of domestic violence does exist in some Latino Families to come and make our faces wise, they all have a wise countenance.
