Ceremonies Also Honor Community Leaders

HARTFORD, CT—When asked by director Phillip Davis why the Fatherhood Project was so important, Project graduate Phil Davis (no relation) said quietly, “I wanted to know how I could spend more quality time with my sons.”

Phil Davis is one of 28 graduates being honored at the Village for Families and Children Friday Feb. 8. Ceremonies begin at 6 p.m. in the Trumbull Robinson Auditorium of the Village’s campus at 1680 Albany Ave., Hartford. His accomplishment is one of many that have come his way since he first connected to the Village as a referral from the Youth Build program.

At age 23 he has landed a stable job, with assistance from Village staff who helped him craft a marketable resume. He has successfully completed college level courses at Southern Connecticut State University and American International College. And, he is celebrating the arrival of a second child. Fatherhood Project director Phillip Davis said, “Phil is quiet and determined; he knows where he is going.”

Phil Davis plans on relating to the Fatherhood Project even after graduation. He is a member of the Project Advisory Board, serving on the recruitment and mentoring committees.

The Friday ceremonies will also honor several community figures for their leadership in the fatherhood movement. Gary LeBeau, State Senator from East Hartford; Galo A. Rodriguez, President and CEO of the Village; Chuck Cummings, City of Hartford Youth Commission Liaison; Luis Delgado, community organizer; and the Rev. James Lane, pastor, North End Church of Christ.

“Our Fatherhood Project is not just a program—it’s a movement,” according to Galo Rodriguez. “The Village for Families and Children is a partner of and a beacon of hope for families who are longing to experience their own strengths.”