Councilman Curtis Jones, Jr. With A Moment of Silence Recognizes the Late David Fattah as Fathers Passionately Commit to Be Active in Their Children’s Education 

Philadelphia, PA - 7:30am Tuesday, August 31, 2021, amidst the twists, the turns, and time changes of the launch of a new Philadelphia school season within a pandemic environment, the 2021 Million Fathers March in determination heads to Overbrook High School at 59th Street & Lancaster Avenue. Anthony Bannister-Fattah, the grandson of Queen Mother Falaka and the late David Fattah, leads the charge. Hakim Starkey on drums brings wandering minds in focus to the task at hand. In cultural call and response, Anthony Bannister-Fattah sings, “Calling All Fathers” as fathers and surrogate fathers answer, “Get involved!” 

Cars honk in agreement and support, school and Septa buses respectfully acknowledge and navigate around the march while school crossing guards jam with the flow. The march stopped in front of Overbrook High School as real messages of accountability, action, love, and hope were shared by Councilman Curtis Jones, Jr., Curtis Williams of Revolutionary Vision Community Resource Center, Dante Leonard of We Embrace Fatherhood along with other men who gave moments of encouragement.  

​The march then moved across the street to Tustin Playground at 5901 Columbia Avenue. Anthony Bannister-Fattah then shared next steps while Councilman Jones declared the Million Father March is not just a yearly event, the march is an ongoing effort with continued collaboration of fatherhood and community organizations. Mr. Bannister-Fattah shared the Read2Lead Bonding Initiative where fathers read with their children -- an agreed upon book is chosen to read together and discuss. Non-custodial fathers are especially encouraged to adopt the Read2Lead Bonding exercise. Men may commit to the Million Father March pledge and register to participate with the ongoing activities of Philadelphia’s Million Fathers March at https://houseofumoja.net/mfm. 
In front of the Tustin Playground banner, Mr. Bannister-Fattah closed out by announcing that Vanessa Bryant, the widow of Coby Bryant, is building two new basketball courts at Tustin Playground this fall in honor of Kobe and Gigi Bryant. 

The 2021 Million Father March has kicked-off the 53rd Anniversary celebration of the House of Umoja. Umoja celebrates in commUNITY with UMOJA IMPACT WEEK which continues on Thursday, September 2, 2021 from 3:00pm until 6:00pm with THE F.I.R.E.: A DAY OF INNOVATION for the entire family and ends on Saturday, September 4, 2021 with RAHK THE BLOCK commUNITY FESTIVAL & CONCERT from 12pm - 8pm. All events are at the House of Umoja on the 1400 Block of N. Frazier Street. For more information contact Queen Mother Falaka-Fattah or Anthony Bannister-Fattah at (215) 473-5893, falakafattah@aol.com, or visit www.houseofumoja.net.

The Million Fathers March and Umoja Impact Week is funded by the City of Philadelphia Activities Fund and the Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy (OACCE) and carried out in collaboration with with Revolutionary Vision Community Resource Center, AHARI - A Home Is A Right, Inc., Women of Free Radio and others.