Senior Partners Hosts Father’s Day Luncheon at Brooklyn Sports Club

Spring Creek Senior Partners hosted a Father’s Day luncheon on June 12, bringing together seniors and community members for an afternoon of food, reflection and discussion. 

The event, held in the early afternoon, was organized by NORC Supervisor Robin Devonish and her team. Guests were served a catered meal featuring fried chicken, sweet potatoes and rice, along with beverages including lemonade, sweet tea and water. 

In addition to the meal, community leader Michael Jennings led a powerful dialogue about the concept of fatherhood and what it means to be a father in the modern era.  

Jennings, who leads multiple community organizations in Spring Creek and surrounding neighborhoods, spoke about his work with “Love for Our Valued Elders,” a senior-focused organization serving Brownsville and East New York, as well as “Youth Empowerment Systems,” which serves young people ages 12 to 25 in those same communities. 

“I feel like it’s very crucial that we formulate spaces like this because I look for in my work to strive for community,” Jennings said. “We all have something in common that we need to come together as one to be able to resolve. It’s not about where you work and where you work because at the end of the day, we’re gonna all be treated the same.”  

The dialogue resonated with fathers in attendance, though organizers said the goal was to encourage meaningful dialogue among all participants. 

 The event also drew the participation of the Rev. Asim L.F. Shannon, a certified grief recovery specialist and grief educator who regularly hosts grief workshops for seniors at Spring Creek Senior Partners. He attended as a guest participant. 

“I think that Senior Partners putting on a concerted effort to acknowledge fathers is commendable.” Reverand Asim L.F. Shannon said.  “I think that any opportunity that we get to be acknowledged as fathers is important. It’s extremely important. I think fathers aren’t always seen as clearly as they ought to be seen, especially Black fathers. It is to my understanding that, in terms of fathers culturally, Black fathers participate in their children’s lives more so than any other cultures. For Black fathers, it is extremely important that fathers are acknowledge for the work that they do.”  

 Senior Partners hosts programs and services for older adults in the Spring Creek community throughout the year. Residents can follow the organization’s website for updates on upcoming events.  

Photos By JaJuan Morris-Guity