Our August Community Spotlight features Fathers Who Care
Founded in 1996 by Reverend Walter Jones, Fathers Who Care was created
as a place to advocate on behalf of fathers in the areas of responsible
fatherhood involvement, healthy relationships, father's rights, re-entry
opportunities, men's health and men’s wellness. This organization
wanted to change the way African American men are portrayed as fathers
and remove the stigma and images media commonly perpetuate. Through advocacy,
community partnerships, men’s health expos, and support groups,
this movement was able to build an organization that demonstrated the
importance of fathers to family structure and spurred social change around
responsible fatherhood and men’s health for the Westside Community.
Fathers Who Care looks at the whole person, providing members with opportunities
for comradery, connection, and mentorship.
Over the past twenty-five years, the mission of the organization has continued
to transform by connecting with youth in the community. Fathers Who Care
has a strong leadership development program in the West Garfield Park
Youth Council. Here, youth from the community plan activities and events
addressing the key needs and concerns facing their peers such as underage
drinking, substance use, and violence. Fathers Who Care has created a
space for kids to maximize their options in life, challenging both youth
and adults to transform their world.
Reverend Jones has always found the work to be rewarding. He has a love
for the people and is committed to their power to be agents of social
change. When asked what he wants people to know about Fathers Who Care,
he leans into his passion. “If we are really going to bring about
real change, we have to bring folks together. If we really came together
to pool resources and properly empower young people, we could create really
powerful change in the community. Rally around someone and build them
up—teamwork can make the dream work!”
If you would like more information on Fathers Who Care, how you can get
involved, or to make a donation, please go to fatherswhocare.org. You
can also call 773-287-5821 or email westsidecommunitystakeholders@gmail.com.