Why Fathers day should be "Celebrated"
Once again, HUD is asking Public Housing Authorities and residents across the country to have Father’s Day events the week of June 10-15th. Last year 304 PHAs held events – events that ranged from all day celebrations to simple luncheons; from recognition ceremonies to health and job fairs.
Why Father’s Day? Why “celebrate” fathers when everyone knows that it’s the mothers that do much of the heavy lifting as it relates to raising families, especially in public housing where 75% of families are led by single women?
Raising children as a single mom is incredibly difficult, and involved fathers or father-like figures can offer vital support, whether it’s attending PTA meetings, accompanying children to various events, or being the person a child can go to about navigating a difficult world. And, according to statistics drawn from communities across the country, children raised in absent father families are more at-risk for a host of negative factors, including dropping out of school. The focus on Father’s Day is meant to be a starting point; either a celebration of existing relationships or a reason to form first connections.
We know that men in our communities are not always integrally connected to services. One of the key goals in HUD’s Father’s Day Initiative is to help connect men to resources that can improve their lives and the lives of their families. Some fathers may need help with job training or employment resources, others with access to health services. Father’s Day events provide an opportunity for men to connect to resources that will allow them to become employed AND continue regular engagement with their kids. The more fathers become engaged and the more resources they access, the more they can support mothers in parenting. Federal agencies and national advocacy groups have joined HUD’s mission to use Father’s Day to help men find resources that will benefit the whole family.
Our hope is that Father’s Day can be the kick-off that will lead to a greater involvement of fathers or other positive male role-models with the kids they love. HUD encourages you to make the day fun, attainable and valuable. We want local efforts to match with existing resources or organizations already committed to the goal of bridging father-to-child relationships. Wouldn’t it be great to have fathers attend their children’s Parents Night at schools? How about simply walking with their children on Halloween? Or volunteering with them on National Day of Service?
We urge you to think of Father’s Day as a tremendous opportunity to not only assist the men in your community, but also the kids, the mothers, and, ultimately, the entire neighborhood. Check out our web-site for ways to make Father’s Day a fun and meaningful event for fathers, children and the community.
Woodwares make perfect gifts for Dad
June means Father’s Day and, for many sons and daughters, Father’s Day means frantically trying to chase down a last-minute gift for Dad. Though Dad may not admit to wanting something special, make his 2013 Father’s Day a memorable one by stopping at the Portland Saturday Market for a well-chosen, last-minute gift. Portland Saturday Market boasts unique wares for all stripes and seasons, but Father’s Day is the perfect time to patronize the market’s many distinct, hand-crafted woodwares. Vendors like Erik Swenson, Ajja Woodworks, Bengston Woodworks, Visions in Wood, Uli Kirchler Vince Nance produce one-of-a-kind items that make for perfect Father’s Day gifts.
Nance, for one, feels like woodworking has always been a part of him. “I think there’s a gene for it,” he said. Nance “grew up cutting firewood with [his] grandfather” before embracing woodturning as a hobby. And, after years of woodturning for fun, Nance’s hobby blossomed into something more.
“It was the case of a hobby turning into a business,” he said. Uli Kirchler, who specializes in repurposing recycled and reclaimed wood into wooden sculptures, has also carved out a bustling business at the Saturday Market after traveling around selling his pieces at art festivals across the country.
“Overhead and traveling--my expenses were too high,” Kirchler said of his time at various festivals. “The Saturday Market was my last way out. I decided I’d give it a try, really my last chance.”
Kirchler joined the market in the fall of 2008, and he stuck with the market even after the first few months were slow; he’s now thriving. “The last three years, I’ve never done so well my entire life,” Kirchler said. “I gave up all my other shows. [The market’s] really the only thing that I’m focusing on. It was my saving. It turned my life around for me.” Like Nance, Kirchler also thinks that certain people just have an innate connection with woodworking--and that often those people are men.
“Men do connect a lot with my work,” Kirchler said. “I don’t know what it is. I don’t know if I get to do the projects that men dream of.
“I have a lot of male customers,” Kirchler continued. “I don’t know if it’s a stereotype. Men play outdoors with trees. Maybe there’s something to it.” Kirchler’s bowls, vases and artistic wall pieces all would make impressive additions to any father’s den or living room. Like Kirchler, woodworker Mike Ferreira of Visions in Wood finds that--perhaps surprisingly-men are often equally attracted to his wooden wares, specifically his vases. “I always thought women would be most attracted to vases over men--you know, vases are kind of feminine in nature,” Ferreira said. “Well, it seems like men like them and buy them just as much as the women. [The art] appeals to both sexes and it appeals to every kind of person, crosses all the boundaries.” Ferreira recalled a specific instance where he sold a vase to a wife for her husband’s Father’s Day present, and expects to sell more Father’s Day gifts this year as the holiday fast approaches. This year, “I did sell little treasure boxes for people looking for Father’s Day presents,” Ferreira said. “They range from about 20 bucks to about 50 bucks,” and are a complementary addition to Dad’s desk or end table. Stop by the market this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. to find the perfect last-minute gift for your father--whether it’s wood or not.
Why Father’s Day? Why “celebrate” fathers when everyone knows that it’s the mothers that do much of the heavy lifting as it relates to raising families, especially in public housing where 75% of families are led by single women?
Raising children as a single mom is incredibly difficult, and involved fathers or father-like figures can offer vital support, whether it’s attending PTA meetings, accompanying children to various events, or being the person a child can go to about navigating a difficult world. And, according to statistics drawn from communities across the country, children raised in absent father families are more at-risk for a host of negative factors, including dropping out of school. The focus on Father’s Day is meant to be a starting point; either a celebration of existing relationships or a reason to form first connections.
We know that men in our communities are not always integrally connected to services. One of the key goals in HUD’s Father’s Day Initiative is to help connect men to resources that can improve their lives and the lives of their families. Some fathers may need help with job training or employment resources, others with access to health services. Father’s Day events provide an opportunity for men to connect to resources that will allow them to become employed AND continue regular engagement with their kids. The more fathers become engaged and the more resources they access, the more they can support mothers in parenting. Federal agencies and national advocacy groups have joined HUD’s mission to use Father’s Day to help men find resources that will benefit the whole family.
Our hope is that Father’s Day can be the kick-off that will lead to a greater involvement of fathers or other positive male role-models with the kids they love. HUD encourages you to make the day fun, attainable and valuable. We want local efforts to match with existing resources or organizations already committed to the goal of bridging father-to-child relationships. Wouldn’t it be great to have fathers attend their children’s Parents Night at schools? How about simply walking with their children on Halloween? Or volunteering with them on National Day of Service?
We urge you to think of Father’s Day as a tremendous opportunity to not only assist the men in your community, but also the kids, the mothers, and, ultimately, the entire neighborhood. Check out our web-site for ways to make Father’s Day a fun and meaningful event for fathers, children and the community.
Woodwares make perfect gifts for Dad
June means Father’s Day and, for many sons and daughters, Father’s Day means frantically trying to chase down a last-minute gift for Dad. Though Dad may not admit to wanting something special, make his 2013 Father’s Day a memorable one by stopping at the Portland Saturday Market for a well-chosen, last-minute gift. Portland Saturday Market boasts unique wares for all stripes and seasons, but Father’s Day is the perfect time to patronize the market’s many distinct, hand-crafted woodwares. Vendors like Erik Swenson, Ajja Woodworks, Bengston Woodworks, Visions in Wood, Uli Kirchler Vince Nance produce one-of-a-kind items that make for perfect Father’s Day gifts.
Nance, for one, feels like woodworking has always been a part of him. “I think there’s a gene for it,” he said. Nance “grew up cutting firewood with [his] grandfather” before embracing woodturning as a hobby. And, after years of woodturning for fun, Nance’s hobby blossomed into something more.
“It was the case of a hobby turning into a business,” he said. Uli Kirchler, who specializes in repurposing recycled and reclaimed wood into wooden sculptures, has also carved out a bustling business at the Saturday Market after traveling around selling his pieces at art festivals across the country.
“Overhead and traveling--my expenses were too high,” Kirchler said of his time at various festivals. “The Saturday Market was my last way out. I decided I’d give it a try, really my last chance.”
Kirchler joined the market in the fall of 2008, and he stuck with the market even after the first few months were slow; he’s now thriving. “The last three years, I’ve never done so well my entire life,” Kirchler said. “I gave up all my other shows. [The market’s] really the only thing that I’m focusing on. It was my saving. It turned my life around for me.” Like Nance, Kirchler also thinks that certain people just have an innate connection with woodworking--and that often those people are men.
“Men do connect a lot with my work,” Kirchler said. “I don’t know what it is. I don’t know if I get to do the projects that men dream of.
“I have a lot of male customers,” Kirchler continued. “I don’t know if it’s a stereotype. Men play outdoors with trees. Maybe there’s something to it.” Kirchler’s bowls, vases and artistic wall pieces all would make impressive additions to any father’s den or living room. Like Kirchler, woodworker Mike Ferreira of Visions in Wood finds that--perhaps surprisingly-men are often equally attracted to his wooden wares, specifically his vases. “I always thought women would be most attracted to vases over men--you know, vases are kind of feminine in nature,” Ferreira said. “Well, it seems like men like them and buy them just as much as the women. [The art] appeals to both sexes and it appeals to every kind of person, crosses all the boundaries.” Ferreira recalled a specific instance where he sold a vase to a wife for her husband’s Father’s Day present, and expects to sell more Father’s Day gifts this year as the holiday fast approaches. This year, “I did sell little treasure boxes for people looking for Father’s Day presents,” Ferreira said. “They range from about 20 bucks to about 50 bucks,” and are a complementary addition to Dad’s desk or end table. Stop by the market this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. to find the perfect last-minute gift for your father--whether it’s wood or not.
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