MILLION FATHER MARCH - NO MARCHING BOOTS REQUIRED

For Immediate Release Contact: Phillip Jackson, Executive Director
July 28, 2008 The Black Star Project
& nbsp; 312.771.1010 cell

One Million Fathers Asked to Lead the Nation
Back to School this Fall

400 Cities Could Participate in the Largest, Organized
Back-to-School Effort in U.S. History

(Chicago) – “Education has become a matter of national security. Because we cannot control our schools, we cannot control our economy. And because we cannot control our economy, we cannot control and protect our quality of life in America,” says Phillip Jackson, Executive Director of The Black Star Project, U.S.A. The Black Star Project is sponsoring the Million Father March 2008 on the first day of school in nearly 300 cities across America. The Million Father March has become a special day that fathers and men use to make a commitment to their children, their families, their communities and their country with their dynamic presence at a school. This is the real fathers’ day!

The Million Father March 2008 will play-out at thousands of schools across20America and in other parts of the world. About 300,000 men from 127 cities participated in the Million Father March in 2006. An estimated 400,000 men in 238 cities participated in 2007. This year, an estimated 600,000 men from 400 cities are expected to participate. The Million Father March also provides an escort of safety, support, and encouragement to children of all ages on their first day of school. Jackson says, “Gang recruitment, bullying and random violence goes way down on any day that a group of men are at a school.”

Research shows that children whose fathers take an active role in their educational lives earn better grades, get better test scores, enjoy school more and are more likely to graduate from high school and attend college. Additionally, children have fewer behavior problems when fathers listen to and talk with them regularly and are active in their lives. A good father is part of a good parent team and is critical to creating a strong family structure. Strong family structures produce children who are more academically proficient, socially developed and self-as sured. Such children become adults who are valuable assets to their communities. “Better parents produce better communities, better schools, and better students with higher academic achievements,” says Jackson.

Participants in the event include fathers, grandfathers, foster fathers, stepfathers, uncles, cousins, big brothers, significant male caregivers and friends of the family. Although this event is created by Black men, women and men of all races are also encouraged to take their children to school on their first day. Businesses are asked to give fathers and men 2 hours off that morning to take their children to school. Men will also be encouraged to volunteer at schools throughout the year. A special effort will be made to coordinate Latino Fathers in La Marcha de Padres.

Since schools across America and the world start the new school year on different days and months, the March will be a rolling event that takes place on the first day of this school year in cities, villages, and towns between August 7, 2008, and October 13, 2008. The 2008 Million Father March is managed by The Black Star Project, U.S.A., sponsored by The Schott Foundation for Public Education and in partnership with the National PTA, the National Association of Black Social Workers and the National Fatherhood Initiative. Please visit our website at www.blackstarproject.org to bring the Million Father March to your city or for complete information about the march. You may also email blackstar1000@ameritech.net or call 773.285.9600 for more information.
Cities Participating in the Million Father March 2008
270 Cities as of July 28, 2008

Accokeek, (PGC) Maryland
Adelphi, (PGC) Maryland
Alamo Heights, Texas
Albemarle, North Carolina
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Apex, North Carolina=0 A
Appling, Georgia
Aquasco, (PGC) Maryland
Asheboro, North Carolina
Asheville, North Carolina
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlantic Beach, North Carolina
Baltimore, Maryland
Beaumont, Texas
Belmont, North Carolina
Beltsville, (PGC) Maryland
Berwyn Heights, (PBC) Maryland
Bessemer City, North Carolina
Bettendorf, Iowa
Beverly Hills, California
Birmingham, Alabama
Black Mountain, North Carolina
Bladensburg, (PGC) Maryland
Boone, North Carolina
Boston, Massachusetts
Bowie, (PGC) Maryland
Brandywine, (PGC) Maryland
Brentwood, (PGC) Maryland
Brevard, North Carolina
Brighton, Massachusetts
Bristow, Virginia
Burlington, North Carolina
Calverton, (PGC) Maryland
Camden, Alabama
Camden, New Jersey
Camp Springs, (PGC) Maryland
Capitol Heights, (PGC)20Maryland
Carrboro, North Carolina
Cary, North Carolina
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlottesville, Virginia
Cheverly,(PGC) Maryland
Chicago - Northside, Illinois
Chicago - Southside, Illinois0A
Chicago - Westside, Illinois
Chicago Heights, Illinois
Cincinnati, Ohio
Clayton, North Carolina
Clemens, Michigan
Clemmons, North Carolina
Cleveland, Ohio
Clinton, (PGC) Maryland
Clinton, North Carolina
College Park, (PGC) Maryland
Colmar Manor, (PGC) Maryland
Columbus, Ohio
Compton, California
Concord, North Carolina
Conover, North Carolina
Converse, Texas
Cornelius, North Carolina
Cottage City, (PGC) Maryland
Dallas, Texas
Danville, Illinois
Davenport, Iowa
Davidson, North Carolina
Dayton< size="1">, Ohio
Decatur, Georgia
Des Moines, Iowa
Detroit, Michigan
District Heights, (PGC) Maryland
Dothan, Alabama
Duduza, Gauteng, South Africa
Dunn, North Carolina
Durham, North Carolina
E. Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania
Eagle Harbor, (PGC) Maryland
Eden, North Carolina
Edmonston, (PGC) Maryland
Ekhuruleni, Gauteng, South Africa
Elgin, Illinois
Elizabeth City, North Carolina
Elon, North Carolina
Enterprise, Alabama
Fairmont Heights, (PGC) Maryland
Fayetteville, North Carolina
Ford Heights, Illinois
Forest City, North Carolina
Forest Heights (PGC) Maryland
Forestville, (PGC) Maryland
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Fort Washington, (PGC) Maryland
Fredericksted, Virgin Islands
Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina
Garner, North Carolina
Gastonia, North Carolina
Geleksdul, Gauteng, South Africa
Geneva, Alabama
Glenarden, (PGC) Maryland
Glenn Dale, (PGC) Maryland
Goldsboro, North Carolina
Graham, North Carolina
Greenbelt, (PGC) Maryland
Greensboro
Greenville, North Carolina
Hamlet, North Carolina
Hartford, Connecticut
Harvey, Illinois
Havelock, North Carolina
Hazel Crest, Illinois
Henderson, North Carolina
Hendersonville, North Carolina
Hickory, North Carolina
High Point, North Carolina
Hillsborough, North Carolina
Hillside, New Jersey
Holly Springs, North Carolina
Hope Mills, North Carolina
Huntersville, North Carolina
Hyattsville, (PGC) Maryland
Hyattsville, Maryland
Indian Head, (PGC) Maryland
Indian Trail, North Carolina
Indianapolis, Indiana
Inglewood, California
Inland Empire, California
Jackson, Mississippi
Jackson, Tennessee
Jacksonville
Jamaica, New York
Jersey City, New Jersey
Jersey City, New Jersey
Joliet, Illinois
Kalamazoo, Michigan
Kannapolis, North Carolina
Kansas City, Missouri
Kernersville, North Carolina
Kings Mountain, North Carolina
Kinston, North Carolina
Kirby, Texas
Knightdale, North Carolina
Kwa Thema, Gauteng, South Africa
Landover Hills, (PGC) Maryland
Landover, (PGC) Maryland
Langley Park, (PGC) Maryland
Lanham, (PGC) Maryland
Largo, (PGC) Maryland
Laurel, (PGC) Maryland
Laurinburg, North Carolina
Lenoir, North Carolina
Lexington, North Carolina
Lincolnton, North Carolina
Lithonia, Georgia
Little Rock, Arkansas
Los Angeles, California
Lumberton, North Carolina
Madison, Wisconsin
Manhattan - Harlem, N.Y
Marlow Heights, (PGC) Maryland
Matthews, North Carolina
Mebane, North Carolina
Memphis, Tennessee
Mint Hill, North Carolina
Mitchellville, (PGC) Maryland
Moline, Illinois
Monroe, North Carolina
Montgomery, Alabama
Mooresville, North Carolina
Morehead City, North Carolina
Morganton, North Carolina
Morningside, (PGC) Maryland
Morrisville, North Carolina
Mount Airy, North Carolina
Mount Holly, North Carolina
Mount Rainier, (PGC) Maryland< /div>
Muskogee, Oklahoma
Nashville, Tennessee
New Bern, North Carolina
New Carrollton, (PGC) Maryland
New Haven, Connecticut
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New York City - Brooklyn, New York
New York City - Manhattan-Harlem, New York
New York City - Queens, New York
New York City - Staten Island, New York
New York City - The Bronx, New York
Newark, New Jersey
Newton, North Carolina
North Brentwood, (PGC) Maryland
Oak Island, North Carolina
Oak Park, Illinois
Oakland, California
Omaha, Nebraska
Oxford, North Carolina
Oxon Hill, (PGC) Maryland
Ozark, Alabama
Panama City, Florida
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Pinehurst, North Carolina
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Portland, Oregon
Prince George's County, Maryland
Raleigh, North Carolina
Reidsville, North Caro lina
Riverdale Park, (PGC) Maryland
Riverdale, Illinois
Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina
Robbins, Illinois
Rochester, New York
Rock Island, Illinois
Rockaway Beach, New York< /div>
Rockford, Illinois
Rocky Mount, North Carolina
Roosevelt, New York
Roxboro, North Carolina
Salisbury, North Carolina
San Antonio, Texas
San Diego, California
San Francisco, California
Sanford, North Carolina
Sauk Village, Illinois
Schertz, Texas
Seat Pleasant, (PGC) Maryland
Selma, North Carolina
Selma, Texas
Sere Kunda, The Gambia
Shelby, North Carolina
Siler City, North Carolina
Smithfield, North Carolina
Southern Pines, North Carolina
Spring Lake, North Carolina
Springdale, (PGC) Maryland
Springfield, Illinois
St. Croix, Virgin Islands
St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Thomas, Virgin Islands
Stamford, Connecticut
Statesville, North Carolina
Suffolk, Virginia
Suitland, (PGC) Maryland
Summerfield, North Carolina< /div>
Tallahassee, Florida
Tampa Bay, Florida
Tarboro, North Carolina
Temple Hills, (PGC) Maryland
Thomasville, North Carolina
Topeka, Kansas
Trinity, North Carolina
Tsakane, Gauteng, South20Africa
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Universal City, Texas
University Park, (PGC) Maryland
Upper Marlboro, (PGC) Maryland
Wadesboro, North Carolina
Wake Forest, North Carolina
Washington, D.C.
Washington, North Carolina
Waukegan, Illinois
Waynesville, North Carolina
Weddington, North Carolina
Whiteville, North Carolina
Wilmington, North Carolina
Wilson, North Carolina
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Woodmore, (PGC) Maryland