Last month, administrators at Billy Earl Dade Middle School in Dallas, Texas hosted its first "Breakfast with Dads," a mentorship program geared toward its male students.
According to Dallas News, the school's principal Tracie Washington "wanted her students to have a large group of positive male role models for the event. Mentorship, she said, is not an easy thing for a young student to ask for, but about 150 students requested a mentor."
However, the school's major concern was that there was not going to be enough mentors for the young male students.
"We were asked to help get some extra guys to stand in as surrogate fathers and mentors for the kids whose dads couldn't make it or don't have a dad in their life," Dade SBDM Board President Donald Parish said.
As a result, the school put out a request on its Facebook page for 50 volunteer fathers to participate in the event, but they did expect what happened next. Nearly 600 men from all different walks of life and careers answered the call. From men in the military, to public officials, to community organizers, to law enforcement, such as Jason Rodriguez, the Dallas Assistant Chief of Police.
Words cannot describe the impact mentoring youth can have on both you and your mentee. Powerful to see a community of fellow men and fathers come together to wrap their arms around or young men. Thank you for having me out. pic.twitter.com/2fTicFpzws
— Jason Rodriguez (@DISDPD_AChiefJR) December 14, 2017
The 11-13-year-old boys learned life lessons from their newfound mentors, such as learning how to tie a necktie.
Photo credit: Andy Jacobsohn/ Dallas News
"This turnout is a testament to show (what happens) when a school and a community come together," Washington said.
You know how the saying goes: It takes a village.