Welcome to The Pixel Project’s “30 For 30″ Father’s Day Campaign 2015! In honour of Father’s Day, we created this campaign:
- To acknowledge the vital role Dads play in families, cultures and communities worldwide.
- To showcase good men from different walks of life who are fabulous positive non-violent male role models.
Through this campaign, we will be publishing a short interview with a different Dad on each day of the month of June.
This campaign is also part of a programme of initiatives held throughout 2015 in support of the Celebrity Male Role Model Pixel Reveal campaign that is in benefit of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence and The Pixel Project. Donate at just US$1 per pixel to reveal the mystery Celebrity Male Role Models and help raise US$1 million for the cause while raising awareness about the important role men and boys play in ending violence against women in their communities worldwide. Donations begin at just US$10 and you can donate via the Pixel Reveal website here or the Pixel Reveal Razoo donation page here.
Our sixth “30 For 30″ 2015 Dad is Christopher Johnson from the USA.
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The Dad Bio
I live in Las Vegas Nevada with my wife and 3 children. I have a 17-year old son – Westin, and 2 daughters – Abbie – 13, and Emma – 10. I am in the technology field and serve as Chief Operating Officer of 2 technology companies that are based here in the valley. We have 2 dogs, a snake, a turtle, and a fish. I enjoy spending time with my family on weekends and spending good leisure time in and around our house and neighbourhood.
1. What is the best thing about being a dad?
Feeling like you make a difference! I feel like every conversation, every action, every lesson is something that is absorbed by my children and leaves an impression. With that comes stress as well, but I think it is so amazing and inspiring to leave a lasting impression on someone.
One of the biggest highs I get is feeling that after I am gone, my kids will reflect different elements of my time with them in their lives as they live on. It is a powerful feeling to know you have impacted a child in a positive manner.
2. A dad is usually the first male role model in a person’s life and fathers do have a significant impact on their sons’ attitude towards women and girls. How has your father influenced the way you see and treat women and girls?
My father and my mother divorced when I was around 2 years old, but one memory that lasted with me was that he always referred to her in a very positive light and said that she was amazing. This type of acknowledgement of a woman’s importance and guidance was very impactful to me and led to my overall perception of how a woman should be treated.
3. Communities and activists worldwide are starting to recognise that violence against women is not a “women’s issue” but a human rights issue and that men play a role in stopping the violence. How do you think fathers and other male role models can help get young men and boys to take an interest in and step up to help prevent and stop violence against women?
It sounds simplistic, but open candid conversation with your children is critical. When children are little, they fight. This is common among all nationalities. I think it is important when kids get to their juvenile years that we enforce the importance of never physically or mentally abusing a woman. I really feel like we emphasise it when we discuss the day’s events or a particular topic around someone being mistreated. It is certainly not something that we shy away from discussing as a family and in a very open and direct manner.