Guslene Bubak:
Workshop Founder Helps Dads and Daughters Bond
By Pat Kiernan
By Pat Kiernan
New York City -Aug. 12, 2019
The bond between a father and a daughter - it's one Guslene Bubak holds on to tightly.
"When I was younger, my mom left.
So my father was just the foundation.
He brought us here from Haiti to America.
Three kids. By himself. Had no kind of support system. So he had to be the rock," Bubak said.
After her father’s passing in 2012, Bubak made it her mission to return the favor to celebrate – and support – dads.
Three years ago she created the non-profit organization “The Terre Route Project”.
She hosts dozens of free "daddy and daughter" workshops teaching dads how to do their daughter's hair.
"To me, it's not just hair. It's a bigger picture. I just feel like fathers are nurturers, just like mothers. They are the foundation and they bring a unique contribution to parenting. Where, some mom's don't," Bubak said.
From simple tips on properly brushing curly hair - to more elaborate braids and up do's, these dads walk out feeling more comfortable trying to tame their daughter's tresses.
"They come out feeling empowered, they come out and can't wait to show their work to their spouse and that makes me really happy," Bubak said.
Mark Chan, a father of an 8-year-old girl, says the class means much more to him and his daughter than just a perfect ponytail.
"I felt it was a great program to incorporate more fathers to do more things with their daughters. Any experience, any opportunities that we have to bond and build relationships with our children - or any young people, it's always a good thing," Chan said.
And for Bubak, honoring the memory of her father and working with those that remind her of him is what keeps The Terre Rouge Project going.
"This is how I carry his legacy. This is how - I show the world that there are amazing fathers who are able to navigate the world without a mother in it," Bubak said.
So, for helping fathers and daughters foster a bond that never goes out of style, Guslene Bubak is our New Yorker of the Week.
After her father’s passing in 2012, Bubak made it her mission to return the favor to celebrate – and support – dads.
Three years ago she created the non-profit organization “The Terre Route Project”.
She hosts dozens of free "daddy and daughter" workshops teaching dads how to do their daughter's hair.
"To me, it's not just hair. It's a bigger picture. I just feel like fathers are nurturers, just like mothers. They are the foundation and they bring a unique contribution to parenting. Where, some mom's don't," Bubak said.
From simple tips on properly brushing curly hair - to more elaborate braids and up do's, these dads walk out feeling more comfortable trying to tame their daughter's tresses.
"They come out feeling empowered, they come out and can't wait to show their work to their spouse and that makes me really happy," Bubak said.
Mark Chan, a father of an 8-year-old girl, says the class means much more to him and his daughter than just a perfect ponytail.
"I felt it was a great program to incorporate more fathers to do more things with their daughters. Any experience, any opportunities that we have to bond and build relationships with our children - or any young people, it's always a good thing," Chan said.
And for Bubak, honoring the memory of her father and working with those that remind her of him is what keeps The Terre Rouge Project going.
"This is how I carry his legacy. This is how - I show the world that there are amazing fathers who are able to navigate the world without a mother in it," Bubak said.
So, for helping fathers and daughters foster a bond that never goes out of style, Guslene Bubak is our New Yorker of the Week.
