Last week we started a new Manhood Tree group and I must say the participants were engaged in the information and willing to share openly.  We would like to get to the point with our groups that we have at least three groups going weekly and we have a dedicated funding source for the groups.

On Saturday, November 13, 2021 we will be shooting promo videos for our first Men's Health event.  Our goal is to pull together advertising that draws the community in and encourages them to attend the event.

We are getting closer to airing our first episode of The Manhood Tree Podcast.  We will have it available on the website and will be working on getting the podcast on other platforms as well.  We will also be shooting a show that uses aspects from The Manhood Tree Podcast but also focuses on Manhood Topics, Health, Travel, etc.

Later this week, we will be going back to the Makerspace to work on our second Fatherhood Pole.  We will be also signing up for classes that will allow for us to operate the machines independent of supervision and allow for us to move the process of building Fatherhood Poles along faster.

Lastly, we are looking for a dedicated group of men to join our Fatherhood Manologues group.   We would like to do a six week group that culminates in a live performance and individual videos of each Fatherhood Manologue.  If you know anyone who you think will be interested, contact us through the website.

The Manhood Tree...Let's Grow.

On November 2nd at 6pm we will be starting a new Manhood Tree group and on November 4th at 6pm we will be starting a Fatherhood Manologues group.  If interest grows, we may offer an additional Manhood Tree Group on Saturdays from 10am until 12pm.  We have also rejoined Makerspace CT so we can start working on The Fatherhood Pole.  Our goal this time is to create the normal size for the yard and smaller ones for the desktop.  We will see how that goes!  Also, The Manhood Tree Podcast starts on November 20th stay tuned!  Oh yeah, have you been to the doctor this year?  Schedule an appointment with your primary care physician.  Get some blood work.  See what's going on with your blood pressure, heart rate and cholesterol.  Men's Health is serious business. 

For the last six weeks, I have been in the hospital and recovering at home.  To make a long story short, after 20 years with a kidney transplant, my kidney failed for the second time.  Interestingly enough, my doctor and I planned for my kidney failure, therefore, I was prepared for it.  On the back burner, I met with my cardiologist and did a stress test.  Which came back inconclusive.  The plan was to wait for my kidney to fail again and then put some dye in my heart to see what was going on.  After being in the hospital a week, they did the test and found out that three of the arteries to my heart were blocked; one 100% and the other two 95%.  I had to have open heart surgery!  This was unexpected.  So anyways, I have been recovering from open heart surgery and going back on dialysis three days a week for three and a half hours.

That being said, it is no better time to get things going with The Manhood Tree again.  Next month, we will be hosting a Men's Health event titled, "No More Suffering in Silence".  This event will be a panel discussion of men who have been dealing with a variety of health issues and how they have dealt with and processed the situation.  We also want to encourage other men to go to the doctor on a consistent basis and be aware of what is going on with their health.

We will also be starting a new Manhood Tree Group next month and looking for individuals to write Fatherhood Manologues.  Lastly, we will be starting The Manhood Tree Podcast.  Stay tuned, get connected.  We are making moves.

My nephew Muraad had a baby on Saturday.  His daughter, Najimah which mean "radiant", "brilliant" in Arabic was born two month premature.  I told him, "That just gives you two additional months in her life".  More time to get to know her, love her.  After I spoke to him via Facetime and saw the baby, a thought crossed my mind.  His mother, my sister Jamilah who passed away almost three years ago would have loved this moment.  She would have loved Najimah.  She would have been so loud about it!  I could hear her now exclaiming, "This is my baby!"  "Don't call me grandma!" Call me Grandma J, or Mama J or some other name  with a twist.  She would say all the things that a new father  would need to build his confidence.  She would fill in the gap where things are missing.  If Jamilah was around, everything would be O.K.. 

A lot of the times when we talk about fatherhood, we talk about the importance of young fathers having had a role model, a man to pattern their fatherhood off of.  We preach the importance of fathers for boys and speak about how needed men are in the lives of their children.  I agree with what we preach but today, my nephew would have really benefited from a cheerleader.  He would have been lifted up in a unique way (that not many fathers have the capability to do) if his mother was here.  Motherly love is something else!  With my sister in mind, I am going to try to muster more energy the next time I speak to him.  The journey of fatherhood and relationships have their ups and downs, twist and turns; maybe I can be a erratic fan...a uncle that cheers even when our team is down.  Maybe I can believe and support him in a unique way, far beyond my normal demeanor; like his mom would.  Unconditionally, at least until he gets his footing and feels the strength of being responsible for another human being that he helped bring into this world.  I can do that.  GO MURAAD!

The performers from the Fatherhood Manologues will be having a conversation with students from multiple disciplines on the intersection of men, families and health on March 25, 2021 at 4:30pm.  This event is exclusively for the University of St. Joseph's students.

On February 10, 2021 we will celebrate Fatherhood Manologues Day.  We will have 15+ individuals performing their Fatherhood Manologue on the Autorino Stage at the University of St. Joseph's.  Two weeks later, a documentary of the day will debut followed by a Zoom discussion.  The entire production is to celebrate the memory of Abdul-Rahmaan Abd-Raheem Muhammad.  Join us!

Our Founder, Abdul-Rahmaan I. Muhammad will be co-facilitating this conversation.  It should be powerful!  Don't miss it!

Join us in congratulating the latest graduates of the 8 week Manhood Tree Group.  Shout out to Timothy Fraylon, Epifano Garcia, Sammy Vega, Alonzo Little and Anthony Smith.  If you are interested in participating in one of our groups in the future, contact us.

Going forward, every February 10th The Manhood Tree will celebrate my father, Abdul-Rahmaan Abd-Raheem Muhammad by asking every man who has written a Fatherhood Manologue to join us and perform.  This year, we will be back where everything started at the University of St. Joseph's in West Hartford, CT.  Due to Covid, we will be streaming live all day with performances, interviews and more.  Don't miss it!