Having the experience of a caring, mentoring and exemplary father is important to one’s emotional development. It can “make” rather than “break” a person. Even if one has not had close relations with a biological father, finding a father figure in one’s family, community or church could be helpful.
In the article below, we read about how Mr. Jayson Downer went through a very traumatic experience due to not having the presence a male figure in his early life. Yet he learnt from his experiences and as a result he is committed to making a difference in promoting mentorship for young men today. Mr. Downer describes his mentorship approach as helping each young man to become the best versions of themselves rather than trying to get them to become more like him.
Mentorship is an activity which can take place in almost any setting. So let those of us who are fathers seek to be the best father we can. Those who have a lack of an appropriate father-child experience seek to find a mentor where you can. The challenge is for all of us to do what we can to be a mentor in some way to a younger person who can benefit from the knowledge and experiences that we can share.
Click on the link below to view the full article.
- E. Anthony Allen
- Nov 9, 2017
If you or I are not at the margins, for example, being homeless, a refugee, on a poverty line or in prison – it is most likely that our connections to agents of our empowerment prevented that.
How we treat those at the margins define the integrity of families, communities, institutions, nations as well as global society. Ultimately, it boils down to how you and I as individuals can empower others to keep them from the margins or get them from there.
See how Marjorie Palmer gives her life to this: Jamaica’s Every day Heroes.
- E. Anthony Allen
- Oct 23, 2017
Alienation from family, suicidal depression, rape, sexual confusion, epilepsy and constant insecurity, are more than anyone could ask for.
For Jodiann, spirituality was the source of her empowerment and overcoming. We all need to find a center and a Higher Power to help us have a purpose in life, to connect us to a rescuing faith community and to help us achieve the potential we were created with.
Read her story here: “Jodiann slowly finding her way home”