MIDDLETOWN, Conn. — SERC Executive Director Ingrid M. Canady is the morning keynote speaker at the 4th Annual “Dads Matter Too!” Fatherhood Conference at Central Connecticut State University in New Britain August 17.

Ingrid grew up in Costa Rica without a father and describes how her identity has shaped her perception of fatherhood. She touches upon race and racism in America, their impact on families, and how personal stories and experiences bring different perspectives on a father’s role and the importance of father-like figures.

“I am so grateful to be invited to deliver a keynote at this important event—and also humbled by the commitment of the Fatherhood Engagement Leadership Team,” Ingrid says.

The team was created to address the need to engage more fathers in the caseload of the Department of Children and Families (DCF), in order to practice a “full family engagement model.” This initiative also addresses the impact of implicit biases and institutionalized racism on families.

The Fatherhood Engagement Leadership Team and CCSU Fatherhood Group hold the conference annually. This year’s theme is fatherhood involvement and implicit biases from a women’s perspective.

The 2018 event also features an afternoon keynote by advocate Dwight Stitt and remarks by Rodrick L. Bremby, Commissioner of the CT Department of Social Services, and Joette Katz, Commissioner of DCF, as well as a range of breakout topics.

For more information on the conference, go to https://bit.ly/2nGcEGE.