Inspiring men to become more engaged in their children’s lives, while helping mothers faced with raising boys on their own will be at the heart of a series of radio workshops taking place next week in the territory.
“We hope to come in and get people motivated and excited and get them actively involved in the lives of their children,” said author and speaker Rick Johnson, who will be in the area to discuss the unique challenges of parenthood.
Johnson, who has written five books on the subject of marriage and family, will conduct a week of interactive motivational workshops – some focusing on motherhood, others on fatherhood.
He said he felt called to tackle the issue of fatherhood when he had children. Johnson said alcoholism played a big part in his childhood.
“I didn’t have good role models,” he said. “I didn’t know what to do as a husband and a father. It was my desire to help other men in those roles.”
Johnson said the more he speaks around the world, the more he sees issues surrounding parenthood as universal problems.
“Fatherlessness isn’t really a color issue, it’s a human issue,” he said.
The radio workshops will begin Monday March 22 from 9 a.m. to noon on Radio One (AM-1000) and from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on WSTA (AM-1340).
On Tuesday March 23, two workshops—one for men and one for women—will be simulcast on Radio One, JAMZ (FM 105) and WSTA from 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.
On Wednesday, Johnson will appear on the JAMZ radio show, "Real Talk VI," with Tony T and Sheena Walker from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
On Friday, the St. Croix Career and Technical Educational Center will host workshops for mothers and fathers from 9 a.m. to noon, with a live broadcast carried on WSTX (AM 970) from 10 am to noon.
Johnson will also speak to men at corrections facilities on St. Thomas and St. Croix.
The events are hosted by the group, Better Dads VI, in conjunction with The People’s Community Action Radio.
For more information, contact Stephanie Scott-Williams at 340-201-8314 or visit Johnson’s website at www.betterdads.net.
