All Pro Dad Bermuda has launched its second annual pancake breakfast to continue empowering fathers to be in better relationships with their children and families.

The event will feature panel discussions on local parenting issues and give fathers an opportunity to share their feelings, observations and concerns in a “safe space”, chairman Brenton Roberts said.

“In the long run what we are hoping is that this bonding, this sharing, this opportunity results in the types of parenting that reduces the single fathers or the divorces or the dads who are in the home but not really in the home,” he told The Royal Gazette, “and that we will address some of those issues and therefore men will become more confident about dealing with family related matters and be seen to be leaders in their families.”

The event at Fairmont Southampton on April 22 will focus on the theme “Beyond Violence & Silence: Strong Fathers, Strong Families = Strong Communities”.

Three panel discussions will feature an “exciting” line-up of notable community members with a background in the relevant topics.

The topics and panellists include:

• How The Law Works For You (9.30 to 10.30am)

Panellists: Senator Jeff Baron, the Minister of National Security; senior magistrate Juan Wolffe; Larry Mussenden, the Director of Public Prosecutions; and lawyer Karen Smith.

Moderator: Wayne Caines

• The Development Of You & Your Children (10.30am to 11.30am)

Panellists: Bermuda College economist Craig Simmons; pastor Dean Smith; Llewellyn Simmons, Department of Education; Impact Mentoring Academy principal Chris Crumpler.

Moderator: Radell Tankard

• You Are Not Alone — A Community Here For You (11.30am to 12.30am)

Panellists: Mirrors Programme director Kim Jackson; sociologist Sharon Apopa; Gina Spence, of Gina Spence Productions; and pastor Leroy Bean.

Moderator: Llewellyn Simmons

Tickets cost $25 for fathers and $20 for children [18 and under] and are available at Mt Zion AME Church, Sportseller, 27th Century Boutique and from APC committee members.

These include Reverend Jahkimmo Smith, pastor at Mt Zion AME Church, Dr Simmons, the Director of Curriculum at the Department of Education; Mr Roberts; APD deputy chair Elwood Lambert; APD finance chair Roger Butterfield; APD deputy finance chair Stanfield Smith; and Ross Smith, Mt Zion trustee and owner of Construction Facilities Management Ltd.