LAWRENCE — Sitting across from each other at a table, Chery Reynaldo Victoria and his father looked for colorful wooden pieces to match the animals printed on them.
Chery, 3 and his dad, also named Chery, were playing squiggly Dominoes on a recent Saturday.
"As a new father, I joined so I can learn to communicate, learn new strategies, see how other fathers interact with their children," said Victoria, 27.
"I do anything to help my relationship with my son," he said.
Victoria was one of more than 30 fathers who attended the program. The collaboration between Greater Lawrence Community Action Council and city churches aims to bring together fathers and their children, ages 3 to 15, so they can spend quality time.
Fathers sign a contract and commit to a six-week program. In addition to the Domino tournament, future events will include sharing Hispanic cultural values with their American born children, cooking and a trip to the Franklin Park Zoo.
Parents who attend all six sessions will be part of a graduation ceremony at Mi Mexico Lindo restaurant in Methuen.
Fathers were recruited for the pilot program through Head Start, where their children attend, or were invited by their pastors from Assembly of God, Church of God of the Prophecy, Ebenezer Christian Church and First Free United Methodist Church.
Anne D'Ericco, director of Head Start for Greater Lawrence Community Action Council, reached out to the Rev. Victor Jarvis, president of the Lawrence Civil Rights Commission.
"This is an opportunity to have the parents and children in a positive environment," D'Errico said.
Jarvis, pastor of Ebenezer Christian Church, recruited fellow pastors.
Before launching the program, Head Start members and participating clergy attended a training session in Rhode Island to come up with a focus for the group.
The Rev. Jose Melo said he was most impressed by the workshop on veterans returning home from the war.
"I learned about the need they have and how difficult it is for them when they are deployed and they return and re-adapt with their families and the community."
Jose Evangelista joined the activities with his daughter, Luz, 11 and Jose Roberto, 4.
"I try to be flexible and dedicate time to be with them," said Evangelista, noting that both he and wife work full-time and are enrolled at Cambridge College.
"I wanted to join to meet more fathers because I don't know too many people in Lawrence," he said.
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