11th Annual Fatherhood Summit Growing “Stronger Fathers and Families”

A summit to help Milwaukee fathers become stronger and more connected to their children is expecting nearly 1,000 fathers this weekend over the next two days at Greater New Birth Church.

The Milwaukee Fatherhood Initiative, created by Mayor Tom Barrett, is hosting the annual event.

This is the 11th year for the event that brings together 92 vendors to provide services to fathers including job opportunities, health vendor, child support, and driver license recovery. Men are also  invited to participate in discussions.

Mayor Barrett kicked off the initiative back in 2005 and met with the men this morning.

He says, "everyone one of us whose a dad, has been given an incredible gift, it is an incredible gift to be a father.”

The theme this year is planting seeds to grow stronger fathers and families. Something everyone said is essential to building a successful future.

“This particular event gives people the resources they need to start changing their lives, do things differently and give them the different types of supports they get because they have to go from place to place to place and this particular day, everything is coming to them," says George Hinton the CEO of the Social Development Commission.

The summit is free to everyone and runs through tomorrow.