WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama is telling young men that when they become fathers, they can "be there" for their children -- even if their own fathers weren't there for them.
It's part of the president's pre-Father's Day focus on responsible parenting and the importance of mentoring.
Obama spoke while visiting a nonprofit program in suburban Washington that trains 18-to-24-year-olds for college or professional work. At Year Up, students get training for high-tech professions and learn personal skills such communication and conflict solving.
The president is also holding a White House town hall today on fatherhood and mentoring, and will address students from local schools on the South Lawn.
The events are intended to kick off a series of forums around the country.
Obama spent most of his own life without a father around. His dad left home in Hawaii when Obama was 2 years old, and the future president saw him only one time after that.
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