Nearly 500 fathers and sons gathered at Eastlake High School for the 14th Annual Building Ties Father-Son Conference, a Socorro Independent School District initiative that promotes bonding through hands-on activities, as reported by Socorro ISD. The event, which took place on September 13, welcomed boys from grades 6 through 12 and their father figures to engage in a range of activities designed to strengthen family ties, from life skills workshops to fitness sessions.
Regular attendee Rene Espinoza, joined by two of his sons, underscored the consistent positive impact of the conference, stating to Socorro ISD, "Every year it's a really positive experience all over." The event also featured potential career pathways, like the Sun City Welding Academy, where Espinoza's son, Jesus, is considering a future as a welder, and lighter moments of enjoyment, including Minute to Win It Games that both sons and fathers participated in, adding a playful dimension to the day's earnest purpose.
Dr. Adam Starke, director of State and Federal Programs at SISD, pointed out the district's unique position in hosting such an event in Region 19, with the aim of either reinforcing or rekindling the father-son bond and doubling as an educational experience with over 30 presenters and about 50 exhibitors, "so they're going to go back reinvigorated with their bond, perhaps being able to re-understand each other. And they're also going back with all kinds of knowledge," Starke told Socorro ISD.
Keynote speaker Albert Villa, Ed.D., project manager for Behavior, Discipline, and Mental Health at Education Service Center Region 19, was met with a standing ovation after a moving address, which, according to Villa's statement to Socorro ISD, encouraged fathers to embrace every opportunity for connection, stating, “Go out there and make another moment and another opportunity every single day.” Jesse Cobos, a first-time attendee with his son, found Villa's message particularly resonant, reflecting on the challenges and rewards of parenting through the middle school years and the importance of quality time.
