I Am Dad

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.

The Expectant Father w/ Armin Brott

Armin Brott - The Expectant Father
A former Marine, Armin Brott has devoted the last 15 years to providing men with the tools, support, and knowledge to help them become the fathers they want to be——and their families need them to be. His seven critically acclaimed books for fathers have sold well over a million copies. Titles include The Expectant Father: Facts, Tips, and Advice for Dads-to-Be and The New Father: A Dad’s Guide to the First Year. He has written on fatherhood for hundreds of newspapers and magazines and is a frequent guest on such television programs as the Today Show. He also writes a nationally syndicated newspaper column (Ask Mr. Dad), and hosts a syndicated radio show (Positive Parenting). He lives with his family in Oakland, California.

Working with Low Income Dads w/ Dr. Kathryn Edin

Dr. Kathryn Edin - Working with Low Income Dads
Edin is one of the nation’s leading poverty researchers, working in the domains of welfare and low-wage work, family life, and neighborhood contexts, through direct, in-depth observations of the lives of low-income populations. The hallmark of her research is her direct, in-depth observations of the lives of low-income women, men, and children. Dr. Edin is the William Church Osborn Professor of Sociology and Public Affairs, at the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs, Director of the Center for Research on Child Wellbeing, Princeton University, Co-Director of the Joint Degree Program in Social Policy and a Principal Investigator on the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study at Princeton University, The American Voices Project and Deepening our Understanding of Amercia's Most Vulnerable. 
Author of Doing the Best I Can: Fatherhood in the Inner City and co author of It's Not Like I'm Poor: How Working Families Make Ends Meet in a Post-Welfare World

Fatherhood, Brotherhood and The Johnsons w/ Derrex Brady

Derrex Brady is one of the stars of the critically acclaimed Bounce TV series, Johnson (Executive Producer: Cedric the Entertainer), Derrex who plays Jarvis is now just closing its 2nd season. The series chronicles the trials and tribulations of four life-long friends, all with the last name of "Johnson". The men, all at different places in life find their friendships tested after 25 years, threatening the unity that had always been so strong. 
 
They are forced to confront and find humor in the most controversial issues from the black man's perspective ranging from love, marriage, business, politics and religion. Drawing from real life, Brady who is married with sons knows that family is everything. This led him to build a genuine brotherhood on and off screen with his fellow cast mates. In the first season, Bounce spoke to audiences, debuting as the highest rated half-hour dramedy in Bounce TV's history.

The Realities of Working with Incarcerated Fathers w/ Bishop Darren Ferguson

Born and raised in the village of Harlem and in the Bronx, NY, Bishop Darren A. Ferguson is known as a leader for this generation – a preacher, teacher, singer, motivational speaker and social activist. Rev. Darren A. Ferguson has been called a “rising star in the ministry” by the Rev. Al Sharpton. During his nearly 2 decade career in NYC, he has served in the Fatherhood program at the Osborne Association, Coordinated Reentry Services for the Interfaith Center of New York, served as Assistant Dean of Students at SUNY College at Old Westbury and Youth Minister at the Abyssinian Baptist Church.  Now studying toward his Doctor of Ministry at New York Theological Seminary, Rev. Ferguson has had a dynamic and involved career.