Respetar y Leer /Respect and Read Project

The National Compadres Network (NCN), in conjunction with the National Latino Fatherhood and Family Institute (NLFFI) has launched a nationwide effort:

The overall goal of this dual effort is to challenge Hombres (men) on three levels.

1. Reduce the incidence of domestic violence in Latino homes. There is a need for men to collectively Stand Up against domestic violence. Among many of our communities, safety and security are major issues. This safety and security must begin in the home, where in the traditional sense of Latino culture, “respeto” (respect) for “las mujeres” (women) is a major element of family harmony.
2. Increase the positive involvement of Latino Males with the children of our community. Through reading, storytelling and positive involvement of fathers, grandfathers, uncles, older brothers, Compadres and other significant males in the lives of children in the community. There is also the need for men to Sit Down and spend positive time with their children.
3. Increase the high school graduation rate of Latino Children. The dropout rate among Latino children is one of the highest for any group, both locally and nationally, and reading, along with positive male involvement, can become a major factor in combating this statistic. Encouraging fathers, grandfathers, big brothers, and uncles to sit down and share positive stories, songs, games, and reading to children is a way of promoting literacy, culture diversity, as well as nurturing a positive relationship.

This effort was kicked off the week of Father’s Day June 9, 1997 with an the following objectives:

• Reaching at least 100,000 males and 100,000 children locally and and across the nation.
• A public information campaign where presentations are conducted and information is distributed to reclaim the true sense of being “Un Hombre Noble” ( A Noble Man).
• Dispel the myth that domestic violence is a part of the true traditional Latino culture. It is not!
• Encourage those struggling with this issue to seek assistance, by acknowledging that the pain of domestic violence does exist in some Latino Families to come and make our faces wise, they all have a wise countenance.

ALIANZA: The National Alliance for the Elimination of Domestic Violence

Web: http://www.dvalianza.org

Since ALIANZA’S formation NCN has played a major part in it’s national effort to address the issues that Latino men face in the area of Domestic violence in Latino communities.

The National Latino Fatherhood and Family Institute

Web: http://www.nlffi.org

NCN is a founding and collaborative member of NLFFI whose focus is Latino fatherhood

Consultation, Technical Assistance and Curriculum Training

NCN has a cadre of national recognized leaders in many fields that provide consultation and technical assistance locally and nationally, guides and assists in the development of local “ circulos” and provides training service providers in a number of culturally competent curriculums addressing a variety of issues to include family violence, gang violence, teen pregnancy prevention, teen fatherhood, Latino Male Youth Rites of Passage, Fatherhood literacy, fatherhood parenting and other areas.