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From NYC: Unbreakable bonds

It has only been day 7 of my internship, but already I feel as though I have been fully incorporated into the organization.

Yesterday, I had the chance to attend a block party in the Bronx hosted by the Bronx Defenders.

Everyone in the community is invited to see what community based organizations are doing in order to serve the community and show what resources they can provide  for individuals. About 15 different CBOs came out and many of them were giving out free burgers, hot dogs, ice cream, freshly printed t-shirts. During the event I was helping to run the STRIVE booth and we were able to get several individuals to sign up to find out more information about our workshops. We will then be contacting them these next few days in order to invite them to sign up for orientation to attend these workshops we have to offer.

I think one of the problems that STRIVE is hoping to address is to reach out to potential participants. However, with the help of social media and going to community events, we are able to reach out to individuals as well as form a partnership with other CBOs. That’s the point of a CBO, to provide resources in order to help individuals grow.

After the block party, my co-workers and I subwayed back to the office and I was able to attend a Father 2 Fathers meeting. Three fathers were there and were asking for my assistance to guide them through Google Docs since they are not sure of the tools that are available. I gave them a quick tutorial of each of the programs then told them how this can be applicable to the fatherhood association. To my surprise, the gentlemen presented me with a pin in a shape of a bow tie. I asked one of them what it was, he replied, "This is what we call the ‘unbreakable bow tie". It represents the unbreakable bond between a child and the father and the unbreakable bond between the father and the Stronger Fathers, Stronger Families program. We want to give this to you to show you that your bond with us won’t be broken either. Although you aren’t a father, we just want to show you that you are one of us now. You are forever bound to us."

I have to admit, I got a little misty eyed. I have only been a part of the program for 6 days at that time and already knowing that I developed that relationship with them was certainly meaningful. I learned a lot from these three gentlemen about their perspective of fatherhood, what the program has done for them, and what they are doing to give back to it.

Natalie Nguyen, undergraduate student, Community & Regional Development, UC Davis

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