Page 55 - June 2017 Newsletter

Annual father/daughter dance creates bonding moments
n BY NICK SWEDBERG
A group of young ladies got the chance to spend quality time with their fathers and get to know members of the Chicago Police Department.
The third annual Chicago Police Father/Daughter Dance was held in May at the South Shore Cultural Cen- ter. The event is intended to provide a fun social event for fathers and daughters and to make sure that young wom- en whose fathers are not available have an escort from Chicago law enforcement or other departments, said Of- ficer Michele Millison of the 7th District.
A total of 90 girls from the 2nd, 3rd, 7th and 9th districts attended in semiformal dress and were treated to a din- ner and gift bags, which were provided by the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement.
“A lot of them were princesses for the day,” said Milli- son, who has been with the Department for 16 years.
Millison said the fathers and daughters bond “over the dinner, over conversation” at the event.
“This is a very positive event, more so for the communi- ty engagement as well as for daughters or young ladies to have that positive male role model,” Millison said.
For those paired with a police officer, the girls can “see the other side” of law enforcement in a fun setting, Milli-
son said.
The hope is to encourage healthy relationships not only
between fathers and daughters but also between police and young women.
“It’s more or less a community engagement project. It also gives the ladies the chance to see the first responders in a different light,” Millison said.
Since it began, the father/daughter dance has drawn a steady number of girls, Millison said. Every year, a DJ plays music for dancing and raffles are held. Derrick Young of CBS 2 Chicago emceed the event, and the South Shore Drill Team performed, Millison added. d
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