I Am Dad

Understanding how Parental Conflict Creates Unsafe Environments for Children w/ Shari Doherty

Shari Doherty works for Child Find of America, Inc., where she serves as the Parent Help Program Director and Lead Trainer. She supervises a case work team addressing missing child matters, location efforts, legal options, family conflict, parenting skills and parenting apart.
She is a seasoned mediator and certified NYS Victim Advocate and Paralegal with expertise in child abuse, exploitation and sex trafficking, divorce, parenting apart, interpersonal violence and mediation methodologies. 
Along with direct services, Ms. Doherty conducts trainings for family service providers, legal and mental health professionals, parents, edu-carers and school staff, child welfare agencies, NGO grantees and others on issues related to family conflict, denied access and missing children, parenting skill building, domestic violence and fatherhood related issues. She specializes in crafting experiential and engaging workshops on often difficult subjects.
She has served her community as a volunteer mediator, recreation commission chair, and member of parent-teacher and youth dance theatre boards. She and her husband have raised three lovely, wise-cracking daughters and therefore both appreciate and lament their now empty nest.

What’s Funny and Not So Funny About Being a Dad w/ Griff

Co-Host of Get Up Mornings with Erica Campbell
This husband and father of five has forged his career at the intersection of faith and humor. With an infectious energy and an unmistakable voice, GRIFF contributes laughter, sincerity, and a real world approach to living inspiration out loud.

Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters w/ Bweela Steptoe

Bweela Steptoe is a literacy advocate and workshop presenter. Her mission is to educate and share the legacy of her father, John Lewis Steptoe, the award-winning children’s books author and illustrator, with the world
About Bweela 
Steptoe Bweela Steptoe enjoys creating the fabric as well as the garments of her self-named label “Bweela Steptoe”. Her one-of-kind designs are her own interpretation of deconstruction called, “Couture Deconstruction”. You can spot a deconstructed look by its defining characteristics, which include raw edges, fraying, revealed linings, exposed zippers, and unusually sewn seams. Garments that appear unfinished, recycled, or give the illusion that they’re coming apart. Bweela uses her artistic background and family art influences as an inspiration for her fabric and clothing designs. 
In addition to Bweela Steptoe the Fashion Designer. Bweela Steptoe is the mother of twin daughters who are currently attending private colleges out of state. Bweela Steptoe became a contributing author for an anthology in 2016 with 19 other authors; Delay But Not Denied, 20 Inspirational Stories About Life And Resiliency, A Mother’s Love And Fight For Her Daughters; dealing with life and resiliency. In her chapter, she talks about the struggle and hardships she went through having two daughters that were faced with different learning styles that are viewed as learning disabilities. Bweela Steptoe is a literacy advocate and workshop presenter.

Moving from Black Boyz to Black Men w/ Chris Broussard

Chris is an internationally known sports analyst and commentator for the FOX Sports 1 television network and FOX Sports Radio. Today, he serves as the daily Co-Host of “First Things First” on FS1, and can also be seen regularly on FS1’s “Undisputed,’’ “The Herd,’’ and “Lock It In.” He also serves as co-host, along with Rob Parker, of one of the country's most popular daily national radio shows, "The Odd Couple." Before joining FOX Sports in the Fall of 2016, Chris worked for 12 years as an NBA analyst and reporter at ESPN, ESPN The Magazine, and ESPN.com. Chris wrote for The New York Times from 1998-2004 and graduated from Oberlin College.
He is the Founder and President of a National Christian Men's organization called The K.I.N.G. Movement. K.I.N.G. stands for Knowledge, Inspiration and Nurture through God, and seeks to help boys and men reach their God-given potential in every realm of life.
Happily married for more than 25 years, Chris has twin daughters and lives with his wife Dr. Crystal Broussard in New Jersey.

FUELING THE URGENCY FOR THE MENTAL HEALTH OF BLACK FATHERS w/ Kenneth Braswell

As we embark on a new year; it has been the annual tradition of New Years to take a moment to reflect on the lessons of the past.    Part of that tradition is also to make resolutions that are both reflective of the things we’ve learned in the previous year — and affirming to the expectations of things we hope to accomplish in the future.
Happy New Year and welcome to 2023.  
Do me a favor this year — Don’t just watch us work — find ways to engage or encourage to stay in the fight. — Your engagement and support matters.  
I’m Kenneth Braswell, CEO of Fathers Incorporated and Host of I Am Dad Podcast. — Subscribe, follows, engage by leaving comments. — it help our algorithms and more importantly — its affirming!   So, Always be kind to others, as you are kind to yourself — or you might find yourself — by yourself. — Always shoot high for your goals — because even if you miss — you’ll be among the stars — and as my good friend Art Mitchell and John Harris would say, - It’s nice to be important — but much more important to be nice. 

Understanding Kwanzaa and Integrating Culturally Relevant Education w/ The Culture Queen

Culture Queen is an award-winning teaching artist, children’s musician, author and arts manager, who creates empowering entertainment for children!  She is the founder of Culture Kingdom Kids, LLC, where since 2010, Culture Queen has produced innovative Black History-themed children’s performances, festivals, and professional development programs at schools, libraries, restaurants, malls, theaters and museums across the country including the Smithsonian National Museum of African-American History and Culture and the Reginald Lewis Museum of African American History and Culture. Her children's album, I Like the Me I See!, released in 2016 along with her 2019 children’s book by the same title, hits all the right notes for families and educators bringing up confident, culturally aware, and curious children. 
 
Official Website
https://www.culturekingdomkids.com/
 
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/imculturequeen

Exploring the Foundations of Responsible Fatherhood w/ Nigel Vann

Nigel Vann, Product Development Lead, National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse
Nigel has worked as manager, trainer, and consultant with fatherhood programs since 1988, including major projects in the US and UK. He has been with the NRFC since 2008 and Fathers Incorporated as an independent consultant since 2016.
He oversees development of NRFC products and webinars and is the main author of the Responsible Fatherhood Toolkit (www.fatherhood.gov/toolkit) and a series of tip cards for practitioners and fathers. He has visited and provided assistance to fatherhood programs in 45 states; facilitated more than 80 staff training workshops; presented at numerous conferences; worked on four major responsible fatherhood demonstration projects and four international fatherhood projects; and written 12 published articles. 
Prior to his work with the NRFC, he managed Maryland's Absent Parents Employment Program (1988-90); served as Program Officer for Public/Private Ventures' Young Unwed Fathers Pilot Project (1991-95); was Director of Partnership Development and Training for NPCL (1996 - 2004); managed a Healthy Marriage project in Florida (2004 - 2006); and served as adviser to the PAIRS Foundation Healthy Marriage project in South Florida (2006 – 2008).

Surviving the Mental Health Tank w/ Tamu Lewis

Tamu Lewis, MBA, Author, Speaker is the Co-Founder and Board President of the LTY Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to mental health education. She is also a Human Resources Leader with over 24 years of experience in corporate and consulting positions.  She founded the LTY Foundation as a living legacy to her brother, actor Lee Thompson Young, whom she lost to suicide in 2013.  Knowing that her brother struggled with bipolar disorder and suffered in silence, Tamu is passionate about promoting mental wellness in schools, communities, and organizations.  Her personal experience in helping families cope with mental illness includes her relationship with her mother-in-law and her oldest daughter, both of whom live with diagnosed mental illnesses. Tamu is excited to share invaluable life lessons and practical solutions to help others cultivate emotional well-being.
Tamu is the author of “Surviving the Mental Health Tank” 5 Keys to cultivating emotional well-being for yourself and your love ones.
With a background of 24 years in human resources consulting and corporate positions, she understands the importance of mental health in our work and personal lives. Tamu is sharing her experience to help others.
Tamu earned a BS in Finance from the University of South Carolina and a MBA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  She has earned the following certifications: Mental Health First Aider, Positive Discipline Parent Educator, Life Coach, Crisis Text Line Counselor, Breath Worker, Compensation Professional (CCP), Benefits Professional (CBP), and Professional in Human Resources 

The Importance of Healing in Fatherhood w/ Jerry Tello

Jerry Tello is a father, grandfather, son, brother and relative of many. He is from a family of Mexican, Texan and Coahuiltecan roots, and was raised in the South Central/Compton areas of Los Angeles.
Over the last 40 years, he has dedicated himself to the service of individuals, families, communities. He has done so by speaking to over half of a million people, and training thousands of service providers across the nation.
Mr. Tello is considered an international expert in the areas of: transformational healing, men and boys of color, racial justice, and community peace and mobilization. 
He is co-founder of the National Compadres Network and is currently Director of Training and Capacity Building. He has authored numerous articles, videos, and curricula addressing fatherhood, youth “rites of passage,” culturally-based family strengthening, and healing the healer. He is the author of Recovering Your Sacredness, A Father’s Love, a series of children’s books, co-editor of Family Violence and Men of Color, has served as a principal consultant for Scholastic Books on International Bilingual Literacy curriculum, and has published a series of motivational health and healing CDs.

Managing Holiday Grief and Depression w/ Dr. Jeff Gardere

For almost 30 years, known as America’s Psychologist, Dr. Jeff Gardere has been one of the most widely sought-after experts in the field of mental health. In addition to having a private practice in Manhattan, he has garnered a reputation as being a top motivational and keynote speaker, relationship expert, and empowerment and media coach.
Dr. Gardere is an Assistant Professor and Course Director at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine in New York City, and an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Touro Graduate School of Psychology, NYC.
In addition to appearing as a frequent contributor to MSNBC, NBC Today Show, CNN, FOX, CBS and ABC World News; he has guest starred on the 8th season of “The Real Housewives of Atlanta," the first season of “For My Man,” and the 6th season of “Love and Hip Hop New York.”
Dr. Jeff is the author of three books Smart Parenting For African Americans, Practical Parenting (which he co-authored with Montel Williams) and Love Prescription Ending the War Between Black Men and Women.