A Date with Dad Cleveland Public Library Woodland Branch - 5906 Woodland March 22, 2025
Broadcast journalist Danita Harris founded the organization S.H.I.N.E. in 2016 "to help women visualize and achieve personal and spiritual goals by giving them information that will inspire them to overcome life’s challenges, position them for success and empower them to discover their divine purpose."
S.H.I.N.E. is an acronym that stands for
S - You are Special to God.
H - You have been Handpicked by God to do something unique.
I - You will Influence others to choose God by your lifestyle.
N - You are Needed in the kingdom of God.
E - You will excel in Excellence through God.
In April of 2023, Harris launched S.H.I.N.E. Men of Integrity.
On March 22, 2025 dads and kids gathered at the remodeled Woodland branch of the Cleveland Public Library for a special event.
After donuts, juice and other breakfast treats the official program began. Peter Lawson Jones served as MC.
Peter Lawson Jones
Peter stressed the importance of fathers in their kids live - Fathers Matter. He told how kids do better in school, emotionally and are less likely to get in trouble when their father is part of their life. He repeated his Mom's advice to him to "Read with expression." Watch the video of his remarks.
Peter then introduced Chrishawndra Matthews, Founder and Executive Director of Literacy in the H.O.O.D. (Helping Out Our Disenfranchised). She presented statistics showing the importance of dads and other men in young people lives. And the great improvements when a dad reads to a child. She also told how her own son was bullied and mocked because he was able to read. Watch.
Josh Cribbs, Chrishawndra Matthews and Peter Lawson Jones
A highlight of the event was the participation of former Cleveland Browns Pro Bowler Josh Cribbs. Josh is also the Director of S.H.I.N.E. Brothers. S.H.I.N.E. Brothers is the mentoring program for boys in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District. Of course everyone wanted to pose for pictures with Josh (even yours truly).
Josh Cribbs and Margaret Bernstein
Josh Cribbs, Chrishawndra Matthews and Margaret Bernstein
Derrick Smith Jr., Josh Cribbs, Margaret Bernstein and Danita Harris
Peter Lawson Jones and Josh Cribbs
Dan Hanson and Josh Cribbs
Watch the video of Josh Cribbs' remarks and then Josh reading the book to the kids.
S.H.I.N.E. founder and veteran TV broadcaster Danita Harris spoke next. Danita explained the reasons why she created SHINE Men of Integrity.
Danita Harris
Leslie Barret from the Woodland branch of the Cleveland Public Library gave a few remarks and raffled off a gift basket to the first dad who showed his library card.
Watch the video.
One of the special guests and hosts was Margaret Bernstein, a longtime print and TV journalist who grew and became the author of a series of inspiring storybooks designed for fathers to read with their children. Her books --“All In a Dad’s Day,” “Donuts With Dad,” and her latest, “The Fathers Walk” – all showcase a fun day spent by a father and child.
Margaret Bernstein and her book The Father's Walk
The program ended with Peter Lawson Jones, former Cleveland Browns Josh Cribbs and fathers in the audience reading the book The Father's Walk by Margaret Bernstein aloud to their kids.
After the program, kids and their dads were given free copies of Margaret's and other books and some fun photo opportunities and, of course, more donuts! Young men were able to sit in a barbershop setting with their Dads.
Young ladies sat at a table with a tiara and a pink donut just like the cover of Margaret's book "Donuts with Dad."
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