Finding a Partner after 40: A Conversation with Black Folks”–(November 2023 BDC 16th year anniversary event)
Background information on the Black Daddies Club
At the age of 24, Brandon Hay, founder of the Black Daddies Club (BDC), discovered he was about to become a dad for the first time. Being raised by a single mother and without the presence of a consistent father figure, he was filled with anxiety and fear about his own ability to be a great father. Knowing of other men in his situation, he believed that a forum where they could share ideas, struggles and victories seemed like it could be an effective network for support. Thus, in 2007, Hay founded BDC in response to the isolation he felt as a new Black father as well as to the lack of forums and spaces for Black men to discuss parenting issues and concerns facing the Black community as a whole. The main goals of the organization are to change the image of the “absent Black father” that is prevalent in the media and to assist young Black men to become better fathers. In doing so, BDC aims to support Black children, families and the larger community.
BDC’s Mandate/Guiding Principles are:
1. Develop a continuous support system for Black men and fathers to share their challenges and/or experiences.
2. Work with Black fathers and the community at large to address issues facing Black fathers, children and families.
3. Work with the media to provide alternate images of Black fathers, and assist in the creation of our own media that depicts Black fathers in a positive light.
Black Daddies Club will be celebrating our 16th year anniversary with a panel discussion entitled “Finding a Partner after 40: A Conversation with Black Folks”, this event will be engaging Black men from North America on their experiences around dating in heterosexual or LGBTQ2S+ communities. The event will also engage Black therapists that will speak about the macro challenges and opportunities for Black folks looking for love or partnership after the age of 40.
The event will take place at a location in Toronto, Canada, that will be announced in the coming months, in November 2023.
Finding a Partner after 40: A Conversation with Black Folks will be a panel discussion exploring the experiences of various Black folks from various entry points into their Blackness talking about what it is like dating, finding love or finding a partner in this day and age. The event will feature the multiple experiences of Black men, and their entry points into Blackness (i.e. straight, bi-sexual, trans, gay, mixed, etc.) and their experiences around dating and finding a partner. The event will also include Black male therapists who also have their own experiences around dating but also will speak about the nuances in dating while Black, after age 40, from a North American context.
This upcoming BDC anniversary event in November 2023, is a precursor to a quarterly networking event series that will be launching in March 2024 in Toronto, which will be a space for Black therapists and Black healers sharing knowledge about best practices around working with the Black and African diaspora and mental health wellness. The Quarterly networking event series will highlight various Black identified therapists and Black healers from around North America, African diaspora, and the African continent.
We are seeking sponsors and partners:
Your generous sponsorship will also assist us in paying the costs of panelists, moderators, promotion of the event, purchasing items for goody bags, offering more events of this caliber, etc.
Below various levels of event sponsorship that are available:
SPONSORSHIP PACKAGES
● Platinum Sponsorship $5,000- speaking opportunity for their company, company logo prominently displayed on event website and posters, company logo displayed on event banner, promotional materials placed in goody bags, announcement made via social media campaign and free exhibit booth on event day,
VIP seating
● Gold Sponsorship $2,500- promotional materials placed in goody bags, company logo prominently displayed on event website and posters, company logo displayed on event banner, free exhibit booth on event day, VIP seating
● Silver Sponsorship $1,500- promotional materials placed in goody bags, company logo displayed on event website, company logo prominently displayed on event website and posters, VIP seating!
Tabling at the event $500- promote your event to attendees at the event, company logo displayed on promotional materials for event
Food vendor- Food vendor for event $800, sell your food to participants at this event, company logo featured on event website.
If you are interested in partnering or aligning with this event, please contact info@theblackdaddiesclub.com and we will set up a time to talk more about what partnering with this event can look like that best suits your organization
Regards,
Brandon Hay, MES (Business)
Therapist-In-Training with the Gestalt Institute of Toronto
Founder of the Black Daddies Club
