Wayne L. Salter, the son of James and Leona (Isom) Salter and the grandson of Willie and Annie F. Salter, was recently recognized by the White House as a Fatherhood Champion within the Washington DC area.

He was the recipient of the White House “Champion of Change” Award for his work in Responsible Fatherhood and pinned with the Obama Administration’s National Volunteer Service Award.

Salter is the National Director of Parent and Family Services and Fatherhood Initiatives for the Concerned Black Men — National Organization, based in Washington, DC.

He has worked in the field of Responsible Fatherhood for over eighteen years in practice, policy and research.

He said without the active involvement of dads, young peoples are more likely to drop out of school, be involved in the criminal justice system, and become teen parents themselves.

In their congratulations to Salter and others recognized in this program, Michael Strautmanis (Deputy Assistant to the President) and Joshua DuBois (Special Assistant to the President) gave thanks to all for stepping in the gap for our families and communities. They also asked that as we move forward, that the honorees and others join with President Obama in a lasting effort to make sure that every child has a responsible adult role model in their life.

Salter is a native of Richmond, Va., and a graduate of Fayetteville State University, in Fayetteville, N.C. with a B.S. in Political Science, and the Southern University Law Center, in Baton Rouge, La., where he graduated with distinction in receipt of his Juris Doctorate.

Salter’s passion for his work with young fathers evolved out of his juvenile law practice in seeing many of his clients not having fathers actively involved in their lives.

He has served as Executive Director of the Paternal Involvement Responsible Fatherhood Project in Chicago, Ill. Under his tenure, the program was identified as one of the top Fatherhood programs in the country by Vice President Al Gore, and he was the youngest recipient of the top Non-Profit Executive award by Chicago Philanthropy.

Salter has also served as case management consultant for the Parents Fair Share National Responsible Fatherhood Demonstration Project with the Manpower Research and Demonstration Corporation, and the Project Director for the Partners for Fragile Families National Responsible Fatherhood Demonstration Site in Chicago.

He is the former Associate Director of the National Center on Fathers and Families at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, and Lead Consultant and Director for the Wisconsin Resource Center on Fragile Families in Milwaukee, Wis.

Wayne currently administers the multi-site Family Service Centers for Concerned Black Men – National Organization providing holistic human development services for low income parents in Washington, DC and directs national policy for Concerned Black Men’s 31 local volunteer chapters around the United States.

He is an Election Judge for Howard County, Maryland, a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., and a mentor.

Salter said he believes that “to whom much is given, much is required.”

He has two daughters and one granddaughter. He resides in Columbia, Md.

Wayne L. Salter will be the Guest speaker at the Salter Family Reunion.

The Salter Families will hold their bi-annual Family Reunion on June 23. The Reunion will be held at the Tom Harbin Farm Center on Airport Road in Luverne. All families and friends and the public are invited to attend and celebrate.

The doors will be open at 11 a.m. for games, meeting and greeting and fun, with the official program beginning at 1 p.m.

Food and refreshments will be served immediately after the program, which will last approximately 45 minutes. Water, tea, punch and sodas will be available.