First day of school: Male role models welcome/encourage students at Woodson Elementary

CRISFIELD, Md. – It’s the first day back to school in Maryland and many were welcomed by teachers and principals, but in Crisfield, one school got quite the different welcoming committee.

Students at Carter G. Woodson Elementary were welcomed by members of the Million Father March, an initiative started by the school last year. The goal is to show positive male role models excited about education in a field that predominantly has a female dominated field.

Different walks of life participated in the event from the U.S. Coast Guard to UMES fraternity brothers.

Omari Carter from UMES‘ Kappa Alpha Psi tells 47 ABC, “Just seeing multiple male figures definitely gives students inspiration. I know for myself seeing my father and uncles and my grandfather working definitely inspired me to go to college and be the best person that I can be.”

Following this year, Woodson Elementary plans to expand their efforts. They’ve almost doubled in participants this year and they expect even more next year.

Nationwide, the Million Father March was created nine years ago and it’s grown from 40 cities in 2004 to over 700 in the past several years.