DMV Fatherhood Coalition Poised to Celebrate, Honor Black Dads

While Father’s Day is celebrated every June, local organizations have been working to support, empower and showcase positive realities about Black fathers.

Under the undeterred guidance of men like Dr. Frank Malone, founder and CEO of 100 Fathers, Inc.; Tyrone Parker, former executive director, Alliance of Concerned Men (ACM); and Terrance Stanley, executive director, ACM, the D.C. and DMV Fatherhood Coalition has been committed to not only working with fathers, but championing their hard work. For Father’s Day 2024, the coalition will host a three-day weekend of programming under the theme: “Celebrating Fatherhood: A Cause Greater Than Self.” 

The weekend of events include: 

• The Fathers and Families Reunion, which will feature a healing program for fathers who have lost children to gun violence, on the rooftop of the Wonder Bread Factory (621 S Street NW), on Friday, June 14, 6-8 p.m.
• The Black Fathers Matter Citywide Caravan, kicking off at the Civil War Memorial, on June 15, 11 a.m., and proceeding to the Big Chair in Ward 8 for a Men’s Health Fair
• The Fathers of the Year Awards, held for the 14th consecutive year, at Union Temple Baptist Church (1225 W Street SE), on Sunday, June 16.

Malone said that while he and the rest of the team are anxious to witness what transpires this weekend, the coalition is not the only program going on in the greater Washington area.

“I remember when we first began our annual events, it was just for one day – now we’ve expanded to the entire weekend,” Malone said. “But there are a lot of other things happening during Father’s Day weekend – more events are planned than I have ever seen in D.C.”

The founder and CEO of 100 Fathers, Inc. highlighted the strides in local celebrations for Black fathers over the past couple of decades. 

“That illustrates the fact that our community recognizes the importance of fathers in the lives of their children, not only for guiding their children down the right paths but for keeping their children safe.”

Black Dads Sometimes Need Encouragement

The DMV Fatherhood Coalition is currently working to address and provide resources to help fathers overcome barriers.  

“Economics is the first challenge, especially for young men, and we need organizations to help them with things like improving their credit worthiness, financial status and providing alternatives to gainful employment, like apprenticeships,” Malone told The Informer.

He also said fathers face “political neglect.”

“For years there have been local and federal programs dedicated to helping men and boys with child support issues and overall obstacles of life, but most of them are either not funded or poorly funded,” Malone explained. “We do it for women but not for men. Mayor Marion Barry started the Commission on Fathers, Men and Boys but it’s no longer being funded by the current administration. We need help.”

Finally, Malone said the organization is working to address negative social stigmas often attached to Black fathers. 

“If you check out the latest statistics from organizations like the Pew Research Center, you’ll find just the opposite. In their 2023 report, they cite Black fathers as among the most active and committed of all fathers in America,” Malone concluded. “Unfortunately, that story, that trend, that truth, is not being communicated or printed – at least not in the mainstream media.”

And biological fathers are not the only people working to help their families and build stronger communities.

Dr. Warees Majeed, 46, founder and executive director, Yayme, lives in Northeast, D.C. and is the father of a son and daughter, 14 and 16, respectively. 

In his dual role as the custodian of a movement and mission entitled, The Board Room, Masjeed and other committed men—along with a small cadre of women— meet monthly with Black men, 18 and older, who have been impacted by the void left by absentee fathers. The goal of the organization, he said, includes eliminating both apathy and a mindset grounded in poverty.

“My father died when I was 10, so some of the things I work on with young men are things that I personally understand,” Majeed said. “I’ve been in their shoes. Young Black fathers are looking for help. Some reach out to me directly. However, some get involved in risky behavior that often results in their being incarcerated and therefore separated from their children and families. But they’re still calling out for help – just in a different way.”

The Board Room helps develop stronger, more well-rounded men overall.

“We work with young men with lessons that focus on behavior modification and character development – those are essential elements to our strategy. For many young Black men, the value associated with time, money and relationships was never passed down to them. They never inherited an honor system because they lacked a father to teach them. Sometimes, this absence continues from generation to generation. Having these values are what we consider to be true wealth,” Masjeed told The Informer.

Seeking help in fine-tuning fatherhood skills doesn’t make anyone a bad father, and actually can be beneficial overall.

“There are no bad fathers – just those who lack the internal mechanisms, skills and habits that would help them be more positive fixtures in their children’s lives,” Majeed said.

Malone also emphasized that most fathers want to be better men and role models for their children and communities.

“Look, I’m 74 years old but I have to say that even among young Black fathers and boys who may have fallen into some of society’s pitfalls, they listen to me and the other men who volunteer their time. They respect us; they want to change,” Malone told The Informer. “They want better lives for themselves, and they want to be better fathers. They just need some encouragement – sometimes they also need some guidance and financial support.”

Disclaimer: This writer will moderate a discussion for The Fathers and Families Reunion on June 14.