The Chicago Police Department had 150 girls attend the second annual “Daddy Daughter Dance” that they sponsor. Unfortunately, dozens of these girls that attended don’t have fathers. Well, some very special officers stepped up and escorted these young ladies.
Sgt. Kimberly Woods had this to say about last year’s event:
“After last year’s event, we had several officers and the young ladies that they escorted, they kept up with one another and it really bridged a gap. It let the girls know that officers are just people too and we dance, and we dance funny like your dads do.”
The Chicago Police Department and the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives planned the dance to help build healthy relationships between daughters and their fathers.
The free event was planned by the Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy (CAPS). Their mission is to:
“…facilitate a relationship between the city’s police force and its community.”
A school in Connecticut held their own father-daughter dance last weekend. It was held as a fundraiser for the school. The Parent Club President had this to say about the tradition:
“We believe the daughters getting that bonding experience with their father, or a father figure, is very important as they grow up and become of age to date.”
The theme in Chicago this year was “All Shades Are Beautiful.” Participants enjoyed refreshments and even goodie bags from officers and sponsors. More than 150 girls attended, which is double from last year’s attendance.
A lot of places don’t even hold father-daughter dances since kids without fathers feel left out. An elementary school in South Carolina actually cancelled theirs because of this issue.
One school in Rhode Island banned the traditional father-daughter dance because it violates the state’s gender discrimination laws. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) got involved when a parent complained.
The district banned all father-daughter and mother-son dances because of it.
This is the advertisement for the first dance last year:
