Annual Awards Nominations and Agenda

Welcome to the 24th Annual Families and Fathers National/International Conference
Be The Difference 2023
Hilton Los Angeles Airport Hotel
5711 W Century BLVD, Los Angeles, CA 90045
Monday, April 24th - Thursday, April 27th
Gala and Awards Dinner - Wednesday, April 26th

Twenty-four years of tireless work, countless talented speakers, tens of thousands of attendees globally, and servant leaders make this a special night. April 26, join us for a well-planned event that ends with a night of inspiration, new connections, strengthening of skills, and looking to support the next generation of leaders, community advocates, selfless individuals, transformational parents, and healthy communities.

SCHEDULE OF THE FAMILY AFFAIR GALA

5:00 P.M. TO 6:00 P.M.
A REGAL RECEPTION IN THE PACIFIC BALLROOM

• RED CARPET STEP AND REPEAT
• CASUAL WITH ELEGANCE RECEPTION
• SOLO SAXOPHONISTS – VAUGHN FAHIE

Join us early to start the night with ambient music that will add a sense of energy and make your time with all of your family, friends, and new networks feel lively, even in a lull.

6:00 P.M. to 6:30 P.M.
NETWORKING AND ENTERTAINMENT IN THE INTERNATIONAL BALLROOM

6:30 P.M. to 6:40 P.M.
GREETINGS FROM THE PRESIDENT AND CEO

6:45 P.M. TO 7:15 P.M.
DINNER SERVICE AND ENTERTAINMENT

7:15 P.M.
AWARDS CEREMONY
• President's Service Honoree
• Fathers of The Year Honorees
• Affiliate of The Year Honoree
• Couples of Excellence Honorees
• National Leaders of The Year Honorees

8:15 P.M. TO 8:45 P.M.
FEATURED HONOREE REMARKS

8:45 P.M.
CLOSING REMARKS

8:55 P.M. TO 11:00 P.M.
FELLOWSHIPING, DANCING, AND NETWORKING

Honorees are welcome to join this international conference that ends on Monday, April 24th, and ends on Thursday, April 27th. The event has over 70 sessions that are in-person to create your personal agenda. Fathers and Families Coalition of America is creating a hybrid event, and different sessions will also be relevant to in-person and virtual audiences. To avoid overwhelming or confusing attendees with information about sessions they won't be able to attend, create separate in-person and virtual agenda webpages for the two hybrid audiences. To make things easy for the two attendee types, we have created one agenda page for in-person attendees and one for online attendees . Visit the Speakers' information for these remarkable and outstanding experts joining us from the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Australia, Bolivia, and throughout the United States.

Roots of the Annual Gala a Spirit of Family

The annual gala has roots in awards bestowed to individuals since 2002. These awards have been presented to Head Start parents, community advocates, grassroots workers, and champions for families and children, such as Assistant Secretary Lynn Johnson, Honorable Holly J. Mitchell, California State Senator, and the Honorable Rep. Maxine Waters, CA-43rd District, Honorable Rep. Karen Bass, CA-37th District, Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano, musical icons Gladys Knight and her husband William McDowell, Mr. Eddie Levert of the O'Jay's, Cedric the Entertainer and as Cedric's son shared, "My dad is getting an award for what he should be doing, being a great dad!" We have honored leaders such as Tommy Dortch, Jr., President of 100 Black Men of America; Honorable John S. Martinez, President of the National Hispanic Conference of State Legislators and California State Senator Leeland Yee, Los Angeles Renowned Advocate; Josefa Salinas, Matt Barnes, NBA Champion, international artist Marion Meadows, former NFL players Donald Strickland, Brent Jones, and first as well as many others, have been honored at our national conference and gala from Wounded Warrior Honorees as role models as dads, couples, and advocates.

As we advance In Legacy Development

FATHERS OF THE YEAR AWARD

The Honorable Stanley Seiderman National Father of the Year Awards

The award was established with the FFCA to recognize fathers who are righteous and upright men in their communities. Mrs. Ethel Seiderman, then widow, created criteria before her to meet her beloved after passing in 2016. Since 2006, she requested this National Father of the Year Award go to not those who will have more significant opportunities but those who went through have risen above their adversities to become "Righteous and Upright Men." Mrs. Seiderman wanted the nomination(s) to come from the community and share how the nominated father(s) have offered their time and talents to enhance children, youth, and families. It was her request to highlight fathers who have used the influential role of fatherhood with an active lifestyle for a cause bigger than themselves by positively contributing to their children, youth, and families in their community.

The Righteous and Up Right Men have served in the military, some wounded in combat, some walking away from the military to keep custody as single fathers and or placing their families first. There were other fathers nominated from their First Nation leadership as role models. We have the honor of at least ten fathers from tribal nations in New York, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Alaska, Arizona, California, Minnesota, and Florida. We had fathers bring us all to tears listening to their stories of overcoming adversity, and a few gave up lucrative careers with others because their wives gave them the support to role model others.

Why Is This Award Called Righteous and Upright Man?

Dearest James xo
Here are my comments for my beloved Stan's award at the Fathers and Families of America's Annual Conference.

"A Righteous and Up Right Man"

Stan was born on 12/4/1931 and died on 1/30/05. He had just reached 72 years of age and was too young to go. He had an abundant love for his family - wife Ethel (married 52 years) it can be done - if willing to learn "the lessons," rather than flee, his children Seth and wife Jenny, Abby and husband Bill, and grandsons - Nick, Will, Ethan, and Noah. Stan stood tall for his beliefs and honored those of others. He knew that children needed men and women - fathers, grandparents, relatives, and kind and loyal friends. His focus over a long life was to engage men in their children's lives best for children. He paid tribute to his ancestors and their challenges in being immigrants in America. His roots were the firm foundation he held dear and pointed his path into the future. He shared his own "demons" so, with others, they could all look at their own. Life was dear to him, and he fought valiantly to meet the challenges of 4 stage Lymphoma for nine years. Was he perfect? No !! Who among us is!! He believed you must continue to do better than yourself and not be better than anyone else. - Submitted by Ethel Seiderman, January 2015.

Living Legacies Transcending Seven Generations

National Couples of Excellence Awardees

During the 15th Annual Families and Fathers Conference, we launched a particular time to recognize a foundation of all society, healthy relationships, and marriages and the legacies of marriage, strengthening families and perseverance. Vision to Celebrate Families, Healthy Relationships, Marriages, and Living Legacies: "How do some couples overcome great perils and storms of marriage? What strategies can they share with attendees, marriage and fatherhood programs, multi-faith marriage & community-based organizations to help support marriage and take inventory to reduce divorce and impacts on spouses, children, families, and our communities for Dr. Gene & Sarah Barbara Blue – Couples of Excellence Award. We hosted couples married upwards of 75 years and over seventy-five years. The spirit of the honorees is devotion, and we welcome honorees and a guest to join us on April 26th

"They say it couldn't happen in Hollywood. 50, 40, and 25 years later, our marriages continue to stand, evolve, and grow! I'm so blessed and humbled as my wife Phyllis and I, along with our dear friends Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr and Ray and Elaine Parker, marriages are being recognized and honored. We will receive the "Couples Of Excellence Award" from the Fathers and Family Coalition Of America on Thursday, March 7th. However, far more significant than this award is the blessing that our marriages represent that a long-lasting, loving family relationship in the entertainment business is achievable! With all of life's successes, my wife and children are my greatest achievement. Praise God; I hope this will inspire and encourage all those who seek to have the same!" by Kevin Toney, founding member of the group Blackbyrds who, with his wife Phyllis, were honored just as numerous others from Gladys Knight, husband, William McDowell, and many more.

Demonstration of Passion, Something The World Needs, Empower Others, Authentic, Constant, and Consistent as Role Models

The Honorable John S. Martinez Leader of the Year Honoree: Representative John S. Martinez was the Deputy Majority Leader serving New Haven's 95th Assembly District. He served as president of the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators for two years. Rep. Martinez also briefly served as the chief executive officer of the Community Action Agency of New Haven. He was chiefly instrumental in sponsoring the Fatherhood Initiative of Connecticut legislation (P.A. 99-193), passed by the Legislature in 1999. John knew the importance of a father's interaction with his child and fought to help develop public policies that would benefit the state's fathers and their families. Representative Martinez championed legislation focused on improving the outcomes for children, substance abuse, reentry, criminal justice, and other policies with a focus on; developing the procedure for state standards and law for the State of Connecticut calling for fathers' involvement. John worked to bridge caucus issues with the Hispanic and African American state and congressional leaders.

On Friday, October 11, 2002, the State of Connecticut legislators nationally advocated to strengthen families lost a champion for healthy families when State Representative John S. Martinez's life was taken in a tragic automobile accident. At the time of his death, Representative Martinez was a member of the board of directors for the Fathers and Families Coalition of America. In 2003, honoring his memory and dedication to the vision of leadership and service in the community, we established the Honorable John S. Martinez National Leadership Recipient. Honorees have been selected as dedicated public servants who always took the time to help others. Recipients demonstrate character, generosity, and compassion for the oppressed giving hope to families and renewing strength in our communities.

The President and Chief Executive Officer selected the award with the consultation of the three Senior Advisors to the Office of the President and CEO. The chosen honorees have shown they have made it through adversity and helped others flourish.

Annual Awards Nominations and Agenda

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