Under the leadership of the House of Umoja, Inc., the City of Philadelphia was one of 800 cities throughout the United States that particpated in the 2012 National Million Father March. On Friday, 7 September 2012 and Monday, 10 September 2012, Fathers were asked among other things, to escort their child to school.

Philadelphia’s participation in the 2012 National Million Father March was punctuated with an address given by William R. Hite, Jr., Ed.D., the School District of Philadelphia’s new Superintendent. Dr. Hite discussed his vision for the School District of Philadelphia and the children it will educate during the 2012-2013 academic year.

 “We are asked every Father throughout the City of Philadelphia to escort their child to school on Friday, 7 September 2012 and Monday, 10 September 2012; to meet their child’s teachers and principals and obtain a copy of their child’s roster and the school’s Academic Calendar of Events. We want Fathers to become very proactive in their child’s education by, among other things, maintaining a dominant presence in the schools throughout the 2012-2013 academic year. We want to inspire our children. Failure in school for our children is not an option! The general goal of the National Million Father March is to improve the quality of education throughout the United States. In the City of Philadelphia, there are approximately 291 public schools and 55 charter schools and approximately 210,432 children are enrolled in schools throughout the School District of Philadelphia. Let’s rethink how we can improve the quality of education for our children and adequately prepare them to successfully compete in a global marketplace when they become adults; lower the school dropout rate; and motivate our children to excel academically. There was a time when schools and our neighborhoods and communities worked together as partners to educate our children. We need to rebuild these partnerships. Let’s renew our commitment to our children – our future – our bridge to the future. The National Million Father March is the vehicle that will help us get the job done. Philadelphia, it’s time to rethink, rebuild, and renew!” remarked Mr. Fattah.

When reached for comment about the importance of the National Million Father March, Queen Mother Falaka Fattah, the Founder of the House of Umoja, Inc. offered the following: “Ourchildren are the heart and soul of our neighborhoods, our city, and our world – our global village. When our children are doing well, our neighborhoods, our city – and our global village also does well. Our neighborhoods, our city, and our world – our global village -- suffer when we do not set and enforce rising expectations for our children and when we allow our children to do less than their best and drop out of school. The education of our children – our heart and soul – is everybody’s business. The National Million Father March in the City of Philadelphia is not only energizing our school system, it is rekindling community spirit by bringing together key stakeholders – parents, religious institutions, businesses, educators, school administrators, legislators, law enforcement professionals, health care professionals and providers, social services professionals and providers, grassroots community organizations, and social entrepreneurs – all of whom have key ‘pieces of the puzzle’ to lowering the school drop out rate and moving our children – our heart and soul – to excel academically and to ‘do more, be more, and want more.’ ”

The National Million Father March is the brainchild of Mr. Philip Jackson who is the Founder and Executive Director of The Black Star Project, a Chicago, Illinois-based organization. For further information about the National Million Father March, please visit the following website: www.blackstarproject.org.

For further information about the House of Umoja, Inc., please visit its website at: www.houseofumoja.org or call (215) 473-5893.