How Men Can Navigate Fatherhood in the 21st Century

Presenter: Eric Marsh 

October 19th, 2022 — 12:00 to 2:00 pm

Cost: $75

Student discount available

Promo code = Student

Workshop will be presented virtually on Zoom.

Workshop Description

          Fatherhood represents one of the most rewarding yet challenging roles for men in modern times. Changing social values, economic stresses and health conditions have radically altered how men navigate their journeys as fathers and parents. Eric Marsh brings his extraordinary background as a professional guide and a leader in fathering education and mentoring programs in Philadelphia to this issue. In this workshop he helps identify the important developmental steps of fatherhood, how men can best think about these, and develop the necessary skills to thrive in their role as fathers.

    In our workshop Eric distills the teachings from his extraordinary Fathering Circle groups. He identifies important topics and questions that men face in today’s world:

  • How do we define fatherhood and the challenges of male socialization and oppression?
  • How do we define fatherhood and the challenges of male socialization and oppression?
  • How can we learn from our children and create healthy patterns of discipline?
  • What does effective partnering look like and how do our relationships contribute to strong family bonding?
  • Finally, how do dads best help their children make the transition to adulthood and address the difficult patterns of oppression from their own history?

Workshop Participants will have the opportunity to share their own experiences and learn from each other.

This workshop is for clinicians, educators, and community leaders, as well as both active and prospective dads and family members who seek to optimize their fathering experiences.

Eric Marsh is a father, mentor, entrepreneur, community supporter and advocate for menand families. He is the current Executive Director and Co-founder of The Fathering Circle, a peer support organization where fathers examine male socialization, its impact on them and its residual effects on their partners, children, and society. He currently serves as the Chairman of the Mayor’s Commission on African American Males in Philadelphia advising city government on policies and legislation that impacts Black men and boys. He is also the Community Outreach Organizer for WHYY, Philadelphia’s NPR affiliate.

  Eric has served as a workshop presenter, panelist, and planning committee member for The Black Male Development Symposium (BMDS), an organizer and co-host for the annual Focus on Fathers Fall Conferences and helped organize and co-host the Fathering Festival, a two-day event held at the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s Pearlman Building that attracted over 800 visitors. He has presented workshops at the National Family Involvement Conference and presented at the international Unbuntu Conference for Men Engage. Eric is an active board member of MCGC. 

Guest and donations accepted at the door.

Philadelphia has a mask mandate for all indoor and public places beginning Monday, April 18, 2022.

MCGC Encourages compliance

Shifting Gears: Finding Intimacy in Men’s Friendships

A Photo/Narrative Exhibit

created by Robert Heasley, Neal Wecker and Deborah Halpern

Swarthmore Borough Hall – March 2020

121 Park Avenue, Swarthmore, Pennsylvania

Sponsored by Swarthmore Friends of the Arts and the Men’s Center for Growth and Change (Philadelphia)

This photo-narrative exhibit portrays emotionally intimate relationships between male friends. It is about men who tell each other about their lives, sharing both struggles and joys without fear of judgement. It presents images of masculinity reflecting deep connections that goes beyond the stereotypes of masculinity. 

Friday, March 6th   Wine & cheese reception, 5 – 7 pm 

Program & discussion, 5:45-6:45 pm

Join us to learn about the origins for this photo-narrative project and the importance of supporting emotionally intimate friendships among men and boys. Presenters: 

  • Robert Heasley PhD LMFT, local therapist and exhibit co-creator
    • Robert Garfield, M.D., author of Breaking the Male Code: Unlocking the Power of Friendship (Penquin Random House, 2016)
    • Brother Robert Carter, MSW, co-director of the Men’s Center for Growth and Change, & Founder of Peaceful Posse for Boys a youth violence prevention program

Wednesday, March 18, 7:00 – 8:30 pm 

Community Workshop – Raising Boys in Challenging Times 

Parents and all who teach or work with boys are invited to gather to discuss how to support boys in being emotionally connected and relationally competent.

Presenter: Michael Reichart, PhD., Director, Center for the Study of Boys and Girls Lives, and author of How to Raise a Boy: The Power of Connection to Build Good Men (TarcherPerigee, 2019)

Both events are free and open to the public.

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