Sometimes it's safety; sometimes, stimulus; sometimes policy.
And sometimes, I'm invited to speak on something even more fundamental than transit funding, more transformative than high-speed rail. On Friday, it was fatherhood. Believe me, that is a truly transformational experience.
What a pleasure it was to be invited to the White House to share my thoughts on growing up and on fatherhood with local high-school students.This event initiates a national conversation on responsible fatherhood and healthy families that continues with town hall meetings throughout the summer and fall. I think the President's video below does a great job of opening this important conversation.
A father’s presence in a child’s life is precious. Everyone benefits from a positive male role model who cares about society and contributes significantly to the well-being of a child. That presence is also important as our children become young adults and begin to assume leadership and parenting roles of their own.
The President’s initiative asks us to consider, and celebrate, the importance of connecting male role models with young men to strengthen and reinforce their ambitions as future leaders and fathers.
If you read about this event in the papers, you probably heard about Zo Mourning and Bill Cowher.
My favorite report was from Tony Hawk who was on Twitter as he skateboarded down the halls of the White House. That's probably not something my own father would have done. But it is something my 9 grandchildren are likely to be talking about for Father's Days to come.
Myself, I'm more likely to be thinking about the fine grillwork of chef Bobby Flay, another participant.
The President called it a mentoring session for the high-schoolers and future fathers, but I don't mind saying I learned something from these young men as well. Judging from what I saw, this country will have some excellent dads in the future.