East Orange Hosts Fathers Make a Difference Conference
The City of East Orange kicked off Black History Month with an impactful Fathers Make A Difference Conference, a collaborative initiative of empowerment, enlightenment, and engagement designed to strengthen fathers, families, and their communities.
Held at East Orange Campus High School on Saturday, February 1, 2025, this event was jointly sponsored by Mayor Ted R. Green, East Orange School District (EOSD), East Orange Family Success Center, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity’s Eta Pi Chapter, Street Maintenance, Inc., and Golconda Temple #24.
Participants and distinguished guests, including Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, Orange Mayor Dwayne Warren, Linden Mayor Derek Armstead, and Naughty by Nature’s Vinnie Brown, were able to visit with local resource vendors and attend break-out sessions covering a wide range of topics such as men’s health, fathers rights, job training and opportunities, special needs youth, teenage dads, improving student performance, and Henry Hamilton of the Whitney E. Houston Academy for Creative and Performing Arts for “Father of the Year” and to Amman Ricketts for his unselfishness as a father, mentor, and friend.
Special performances included a martial arts demonstration from Green’s School of Martial Arts, a soul-stirring monologue “Daddy’s Pain” by students from Whitney Houston Academy of Creative and Performing Arts, and “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” by Eta Pi’s 2024 Talent Hunt Winner Abigail Armstead.
Anyone interested in volunteering as a mentor in the City of East Orange is asked to contact the Mayor’s Street Engagement Team at 862.576.3713 or email streetmaintenanceinc@gmail.com
