FATHERHOOD ADVOCACY
I believe active dads are uniquely predisposed to become change agents. So my desire to positively affect the world doesn't end with entrepreneurial pursuits, financial success or content production but is most fully realized by engaging fellow active dads and parents.
-James Mahaffey
CoFounder (2012-2016)— Boston Dads Group
White House Delegate — representing active dads
Instructor - Leading dialogues and creating support systems for new dads
PRESS
The White House Summit on Working Families Working Fathers Lead-Up event.
BOSTON FATHER’S GROUP GROWS -BOSTON GLOBE
NEW LAW GIVES MASSACHUSETTS FATHERS PATERNITY LEAVE -MASSLIVE.COM
"IT'S A DAD THING!" -BOSTON PARENTS PAPER
PÈRES AU FOYER PAR CHOIX -LE JOURNAL DE MONTRÉAL
On June 23, 2014 President Obama convened a White House Summit on Working Families. The White House Summit on Working Families, hosted jointly by the Center for American Progress, the Department of Labor, and the White House Council on Women and Girls, convened businesses, economists, labor leaders, legislators, advocates, the media, and ordinary citizens for a discussion on issues facing the entire spectrum of working families from low-wage workers to corporate executives; from young parents to baby boomers caring for their own aging parents.
At the summit participants discussed how to strengthen our nations workplaces to better support working families, boost businesses’ bottom lines, and ensure America’s global economic competitiveness in the coming decades. Over 1,500 people attended the event in Washington, DC, thousands watched the summit online, and tens of thousands participated in the online conversation using #FamiliesSucceed.
But the summit wasn’t just a single day; it was the beginning of a larger movement. Its a movement about creating change-in our laws, in our business policies, and in our society. Because all Americans should be able to have both a job and a family. All Americans should be able to stay home with a sick child, or an aging parent. All Americans should be paid equally and all Americans should be able to take paid time off to have a child. In order to make that society a reality, we need policies like paid family medical leave, paid sick days, pregnancy fairness, minimum wage, fair scheduling, and a commitment to equal pay.
“The US is far behind every other developed nation in this area. Hopefully with summits such as this we can begin to change that.”
CLASSES
New law gives Massachusetts fathers paternity leave -MASSLIVE.com
Requiring companies to give new fathers time off, Mahaffey said, could have "substantial benefits to society as a whole."
Mahaffey said he hopes a cultural shift accompanies the new law, in which employers tell employees that it is okay to take the time off.
"One thing you'll have with men and fathers, maybe it's there, but it's unspoken or not really talked about enough that you should really take the time," Mahaffey said.
The Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination already advises businesses that they should consider providing paternity leave, even though it was not mandated by state law, because of concerns that not doing so would violate the Equal Rights Amendment of the Massachusetts Constitution.
Caption: Dan Jenkins, an account manager at a St. Louis public relations firm, took a month of paid paternity leave following the birth of his daughter, Emma. (June 12, 2002 Photo by Brian Cassidy)Brian Cassidy
"IT'S A DAD THING!" -Boston Parents Paper
“It’s a lonely existence sometimes as a dad, a stay-at-home dad, in particular.”
“..I never doubted my decision because there is nothing more important than I could have done at that time, my family was always my priority.”
“Making sure we have our daddy/daughter days is good for our relationship and helps mom.”