Visionaries & Advocates

Honoring Visionaries, Advocates & those who have come and gone, but will not be forgotten

The CCC recognizes Pennsylvania’s First Fatherhood Leadership Responders willing to bring to light something that has been in the dark, far too long, that is the Absence or Noninvolvement of too many fathers in the care of their children and families, and to shine a spotlight on the resulting consequences.

The Rev. Dr. W. Wilson Goode, Sr.

Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania

The Rev. Dr. W. Wilson Goode Sr. is the President and CEO of Amachi Inc., a nationally acclaimed faith-based program for mentoring children of incarcerated parents; and Board Chair of SELF Inc. – a nonprofit dedicated to serving homeless men and women. Goode is also Chairman and CEO of the Philadelphia Leadership Foundation.

Dr. Goode is recognized as Chair Emeritus of SOC
Symposium Organizing Committee
A Prelude to the CCC

In Remembrance of David A Wyher

January 17, 1949 – November 30. 2022 David’s Term as President of the SOC would have begun in January 2023

David A. Wyher, former President and CEO, of Delta Community Supports, Inc.
Montgomery County, Pennsylvania

David was a kind man, with a sharp wit: a patient father, a loving husband; a wise advisor, a trusted friend, and a devoted servant of God. He shared a collective vision with The Strong Families Commission’s Community of Advocates regarding the future of Pennsylvania.

As Vice Chair of the SOC, David represented THE COMMISSION in the early development of the framing of the CCC.

Dr. Joel N. Myers

Centre County, Pennsylvania

An American businessman who is the founder and executive chairman of AccuWeather, an American commercial weather service and media company, and Founder and Chair of the Dad’s Resource Center in State College, Pennsylvania.

Dr. Myers served as one of the three Fatherhood Giants who led the Pennsylvania Greater Father Family Involvement Campaign (PAGFFIC) that encouraged the passing of Pennsylvania House Bill, 1731, Printer’s Number 2953, that called for a historic Fatherhood Advisory Committee in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Dr. Myers served as Campaign Chair (2019-2022).

He continues to give speeches and lectures around the state, regarding the importance of fathers in the lives of children.

Senator Anthony Hardy Williams

8th Senatorial District Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania

September 14, 2017

To the Attendees of the Strong Families Commission Symposium:

I am proud to support a bipartisan and bicameral initiative that focuses on “Child Well-Being in Pennsylvania and the Urgent Need for Father Involvement.” The strength of our society is rooted in the family structure, which is becoming more and more complex. I believe that all public officials have a responsibility to support the vital role of all parents, including fathers, in the development of our most valuable assets — our children.

I am eager to review the comprehensive report of today’s proceedings and look forward to the commission’s recommendations regarding potential remedies to these important issues. I applaud the efforts of The Strong Families Commission and its partners in bringing together some of the state’s most knowledgeable and experienced professionals to highlight the importance of paternal participation in the lives of our children.

I thank you all for coming and ask that all attendees continue to support this initiative as we move toward a statewide conversation to address these topics.

Sincerely,

Anthony H. Williams, PA Senate —

Senator Williams, while serving in the Pennsylvania Senate, has spent a great deal of his time during the last seven years advocating for greater father involvement in the lives of children, caregivers of children, and the community spaces in which children learn to adopt to the outside world.

Representative
Lori A. Mizgorski

Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
January 2020

Open Announcement to Father, Child and Family Advocates across Pennsylvania

It gives me great pleasure to share with you that Pennsylvania House of Representative Lori A. Mizgorski, serving the 30^th Legislative District in Western Pennsylvania has agreed to introduce our bill in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. The details of which have not been completely worked out, however, we have waited so long for the right person to come along that can represent our inclusive posture on families and family relationships that I could not help but want to share the good news right away.

Representative Mizgorski is known for her bi-partisan record of accomplishments that has included protecting families as well as taxpayers. As a mother of three, wife and former local Township Commissioner for over nine years, she understands the challenges that the voiceless face, and that state government leaders must work on behalf of all fathers and families throughout the Commonwealth.

Representative Mizgorski spent three years (2020-2022) working on getting legislation passed that established the creation of the Pennsylvania Advisory Committee on Greater Father Involvement, as well as defining the public policy of the Commonwealth to end institutional barriers that may impede fathers in fostering supportive connections with their children, establish support mechanisms to enhance the ability of fathers to assume a beneficial parenting role and assist men in preparing for the legal, financial and emotional responsibilities of fatherhood.

Thanks to Representative Mizgorski’ s stick-to-itiveness, the above policy which did not exist before 2022, does exist to this day, allowing citizens across the Commonwealth, particularly fathers, to begin to have once again faith in its government’s willingness to work on behalf of not only what is in the best interest of the child,” but family stability as well, including fathers.

Former Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives State Representative

Bryan Dean Cutler

Representing the 100th legislative district Lancaster, Pennsylvania

A Man of His Word

Former Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, State Representative Bryan Dean Cutler, is known among men and women across Pennsylvania for his word, especially those who are fathers. I met Speaker Cutler in January 2021 and he committed to support legislation to establish a Pennsylvania Advisory Committee on Greater Father Involvement. He never withdrew his word.

As a consequence, The Strong Families Commission, Incorporated (THE COMMISSION), was able to continue its work and experienced success in its efforts to get the Pennsylvania General Assembly to establish by statue a Pennsylvania Commission that promotes greater father family involvement in the lives of children, and family connections, and the removal of state systematic impediments that work against greater father-child and family involvement. In addition, THE COMMISSION, was able to establish an open-door policy with the Pennsylvania Joint State Government Commission as allies instead of advisories, which reported as its first recommendation that there be established a permanent Commission on greater fatherhood involvement.

As THE COMMISSION and the CCC continue the work needed in Phase III of the campaign, both organizations are looking forward to having the support and influence of Representative Cutler, as we attempt to bring the campaign for a permanent fatherhood commission to an end by the first quarter of 2025.