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Brooklyn's 'Daddy Children's Day' Event Celebrates Local Fathers

By Camille Bautista | June 12, 2015 12:11pm | Updated on June 15, 2015 8:38am
 Father figures and local dads are honored at the 2014 Daddy Children's Day in Bed-Stuy.
Father figures and local dads are honored at the 2014 Daddy Children's Day in Bed-Stuy.
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Rob Lee

BEDFORD-STUYVESANT — A Brooklyn activist is honoring local dads and father figures this weekend to celebrate their contributions to the community.

Ephraim Benton will host Bedford-Stuyvesant’s fifth annual “Daddy Children’s Day” at Herbert Von King Park on Saturday in collaboration with local organizations and the 79th Precinct.

Children and families can enjoy carnival games, face painting, music and arts and crafts, or take advantage of several educational resources including fatherhood workshops.

“I wanted to debunk the myth that black fathers don’t exist in their children’s lives,” Benton said. “It’s taking the father-kids bonding experience and making it more prevalent in today’s society.”

The Bed-Stuy resident started the event in 2011 after creating a publishing company with his then 7-year-old daughter.

“Daddy Children’s Day was a continuation of the positive reinforcement of that, to show that people do care about their children,” he said.

Benton will present “Community Dad Awards” to individuals invested in their neighborhoods, including East New York community organizer Joshua Barker.

Barker, 41, said he tries to be a role model not only to his two sons, but also to several kids and teens lacking father figures in their lives.

“Events like these are important, especially when we have these roles missing in our communities,” Barker said.

“Fathers, or those who act like one, set a precedent for a lot of things that kids need: direction, focusing on their goals, or keeping them out of trouble.”

Men who are “fathers to the community,” will also receive recognition, Benton added, such as Capt. Ronald McCall of the NYPD Transit Bureau.

Bed-Stuy’s 79th Precinct will host its first annual children’s painting contest on “Daddy Children’s Day,” and anti-gun violence program S.O.S Bed-Stuy holds its inaugural summer kickoff at the park.

“Daddy Children’s Day” takes place at Herbert Von King Park on Saturday, June 13 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.