Fatherhood Summit hosted by Children’s Network celebrates the unique role of fathers

Children’s Network and the Inland Empire Father Involvement Coalition held their 10th Annual IE Fatherhood Summit on Feb. 22 at Fontana Middle School. The event was dedicated to educating, encouraging and equipping fathers to stay involved in their children’s education. It also connected them to county and community resources providing services to fathers and their families.

“The Fatherhood Summit was a great success,” said Children’s Network Officer Ashley Brooksher. “We continue to see the positive impact this event has in our community as we support and raise awareness to the importance of the father’s role in the daily lives of their children.”

The summit, aimed at supporting fathers and families, provided a platform for over 134 attendees to explore informative topics on fatherhood through a panel presented by local organizations, Father-Con and All Pro Dads. Watch D.O.G.S. panelists John Richards, Javier Parada and Carlos Hernandez shared local fatherhood support programs with attendees and the positive impact they have had in their professional and personal relationships with their children.

Families enjoyed various activities, including face painting, corn hole, a photo booth, Giant Jenga, an interactive 360 camera booth and gift basket giveaways. Adding an extra layer of fun and entertainment, volunteer cosplayers dressed as popular characters such as Deadpool, Wolverine and Jean Grey. The youth participated in a variety of workshops, including Healthy Masculinity and Teen Dating Violence Awareness hosted by House of Ruth as well as the mayor’s Youth Advisory Committee Leadership Development workshop hosted by the city of Fontana Community Services.

Inland Empire Fatherhood Coalition Coordinator Juan Solis said, “Today, our focus was to provide invaluable information to empower fathers and strengthen family bonds within the community. Today we celebrated fathers and their impactful bond with their children.”

Children’s Network is dedicated to strengthening and promoting the well-being of children, families and communities in San Bernardino County. For more information about our programs and services, please visit website at cn.sbcounty.gov.

Additional County Update News – March 13, 2025