The nation’s first Father’s Day was celebrated on June 19, 1910, in Spokane, Washington. Most historians would agree that Sonora Smart Dodd, a Washington State resident, was the first person to propose the holiday. The story goes that Sonora was attending one of the first official Mother’s Day services in 1909 at her church in Spokane, Washington, when she had an epiphany—if mothers deserved a day in honor of their loving service, why not fathers? Losing her mother at 16, Sonora and her five siblings were raised by their father (William Jackson Smart).

In 1910, Sonora brought a petition before the Spokane Ministerial Alliance to recognize the courage and devotion of all fathers like William on June 5, her dad’s birthday. The local clergy liked the idea of a special Father’s Day service, but couldn’t pull something together so quickly, so they settled for June 19, the third Sunday in June.

However, it was not until 1972—58 years after President Woodrow Wilson made Mother’s Day official—that the day honoring fathers became a nationwide holiday in the United States when Richard Nixon signed a Congressional resolution declaring the third Sunday in June to be Father’s Day. Sonora dad, no doubt, would have been proud.

Father’s Day 2023 will occur on Sunday, June 18.

Happy Father's Day to all the fathers, dads, fathers-in-law, grandfathers, uncles and honorary fathers!!!!

Looking for part-time work? Would you like to receive on-the-job training? Are you a low-income person and 55 years of age or older? Well, SCSEP may have a job for you.

For more information, contact:

Garilyn Verdin Ward

Program Director

Institute for Indian Development

Senior Community Service Employment Program

Administration on Aging

706 E Vermillion St

Lafayette, LA 70501

Main Office Telephone: 337-735-1642

Email: [email protected]

To learn more about SCSEP, please click the link below.

Wednesday, June 21, 2023

Lafayette Consolidated Government

Dupuis Recreation Center

1212 East Pont Des Mouton Road

Lafayette, La 70501

9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

For more information, please email [email protected]

The Family Strong Foundation along with State Representative Dustin Miller & the city of Washington are hosting the 4th Annual Men’s Summit.

Saturday, June 24, 2023

Washington Community Center

Washington, LA. 

9:00 a.m. - 12 noon

If your organization would like to host a booth and get more information about the event, please click the link below.

Howard Brown

Howard Brown is a native of Simmesport, LA who was an all-around athlete in high school before joining the military. Having served over 23 years in both the Army and the National Guard, Mr. Brown found his calling as a security guard. Employed through Lofton Staffing, he has been working for the Lafayette Job Center for two years. Mr. Brown makes certain that the job center is a safe, secure, and orderly environment for the staff, partners and visitors.  He patrols the job center and the grounds, thoroughly documents all incidents and reports any concerns to management. 

Mr. Brown ensures a positive “customer service” experience by greeting visitors, answering questions, and providing directions throughout the job center.  However, he is far more than a security guard.  Mr. Brown assists the staff and partners on a largescale and provides exceptional services as requested. 

In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his wife, children and grandchildren, traveling, watching sports, and cooking.

Mr. Brown is thought of as a mentor and even a father figure by many who work at and visit the job center. And for that reason, his Lafayette Job Center Family wishes him and all the fathers a Happy Father’s Day!!!

Let's continue encouraging participants to complete this survey.

It is a great tool for us to determine where the gaps are, so we may do our part to fill them.

The link is included below.