To help bring families together while encouraging active transportation, New Brunswick recently (June 19th, 2015) held a “Dads and Kids Walk” where families walked together to the Paul Robeson Community School. The event was inspired by the NJ Department of Children and Families’ initiative called Dads Take Your Child to School Day. The event in New Brunswick started with a collaboration between Keith Jones II from the City of New Brunswick and Peter Bilton from Keep Middlesex Moving. The goal was to further a fatherhood initiative in the city, by encouraging fathers and guardians to walk their kids to school and to become involved in the kids’ education in a healthy way.
Walking the kids to school is an excellent way to maximize active time while being together with family. The Paul Robeson School Principal Kelly Mooring worked with Jones and Bilton to promote the event. The school sent home a flier to advertise and encourage families to get involved. Nearly 140 kids and parents participated, celebrating the role that fathers play in their family and the community. Once they reached the school, participants walked around a nearby park and then proceeded into the school’s auditorium to hear remarks about the importance of children developing a healthy lifestyle from the Principal, Jones, Bilton, and a PTA representative. The event was planned to coincide with Father’s Day weekend.
Several other schools in the area are interested in collaborating with Keep Middlesex Moving to hold similar events. We can expect more events related to the fatherhood initiative later in the summer.
Please use the slider below to view pictures of the event, courtesy of Keith Jones II.
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