( ENSPIRE Community Spotlight ) The ‘Fatherhood Is Brotherhood’ Campaign Launches at ‘The State of Black Fathers’ Virtual Town Hall in Partnership With Hot 107.9’s Jnicks
ENSPIRE Contributor: Anastasia Hanna
Founded in 2004, Fathers Incorporated is a nationally recognized award-winning not-for-profit organization based in Dunwoody, GA, and dedicated to providing professional development, organizational capacity, and direct services primarily for Black fathers. Their mission is to engage, equip, and empower a community network of fathers and families by creating an environment of support, parental education, and positive societal narratives.
FI just launched a research institute, The Moynihan Institute for Fatherhood Research and Policy, to provide descriptive, explanatory research and policy positions on issues that impact Black families from the perspective of fathers. The institute was launched in honor of the original 1965 Moynihan Report, which almost five decades after its release, analysis of the national data shows that little progress has been made on key issues identified affecting Black families. Many of these issues are now worse and are prevalent among other families of color.
Fathers Incorporated (FI), in partnership with Urban One through their local partner Hot 107.9, will kick off the “Fatherhood Is Brotherhood (FIB)” campaign on Thursday, February 11, 7 PM at ‘The State of the Black Fathers” Facebook Live virtual town hall (www.facebook.com/HOT1079ATL). The event will cover topics such as child custody and support, arrears, legitimization, and much more. Dads are encouraged to sign up to receive an invitation to this exclusive event by visiting www.fathersincorporated.com or sending an email to info@fathersincorporated.com.
FI was awarded a $5M grant from the Administration of Children and Families Office of Families Assistance to serve 900 young fathers in Metro Atlanta over the next 5 years (2020-2025). The campaign, “Fatherhood is Brotherhood” helps to elevate the conversation around the relevance of both Fatherhood and Brotherhood and includes mentorship by well-known brand ambassadors such as rap artist T-Mo (Goodie Mob), GRIFF co-host of Get Up! Mornings with Erica Campbell, sports analyst and media personality Chris Broussard, as well as Sheriff Patrick Labat of the Fulton County Sheriff Department. The official launch is set for February 12th, which will welcome a freshman cohort of fathers into a “brotherhood” of support, networking, and elevation.
“We want to impress that the two—fatherhood and brotherhood—are equally reliant on each other,” says the CEO of Fathers Incorporated, Kenneth Braswell. “As an agency, we are honored to be in a position to serve 900 young fathers in Metro Atlanta over the next five years. Most of these fathers will be African American, between the ages of 18-40.”
Javin Foreman, Project Director for the “FIB” campaign shares, “We are excited about the possibilities of the ‘Fatherhood Is Brotherhood’ project and the changes it can have on our families and communities.”
“Fathers Incorporated has been serving fathers nationally for over 16 years. We are excited to bring our national expertise in the field of responsible fatherhood to serve fathers and their families in Metro Atlanta,” shares Kenneth.
The FIB campaign will target fathers living in disadvantaged areas who are aged 18 – 40 with children ages 24 and under who reside in Metro Atlanta counties: Fulton County, DeKalb County, Gwinnett County, Cobb County, Clayton County, Henry County, and Rockdale County. For more information about the “Fatherhood Is Brotherhood” campaign or the work of Fathers Incorporated, visit www.fathersincorporated.com.
