Name: Kells Barnett | City: Harlem NY | IG: @kellsmania

What does being a father mean to you?

Sacrifice & patience. Sharing every bit of knowledge you have with your children to enhance their lives & decisions.

Describe your experience with your father growing up and how that impacted you today.

My father has been incarcerated my entire life , his absence was both a strength and a weakness. I knew I would always want to be in my kids life so that forced me to always stay out of trouble but his absence also effected me because I had to figure it all out on my own.

What things did you take from your experience growing up into your own fatherhood journey?

To always be there for your children no matter what obstacles are thrown at you.

My children live in Virginia I live in nyc & I will drive 8 hours at the drop of a hat just to go to a doctors appointment or school trip.

Have you had any obstacles on your fatherhood journey?

Because of a job opportunity for my children’s mother, my children living hundreds of miles away is a huge burden but nothing will get in the way of me being a good father .

What advice would you give others new on their fatherhood journey?

Be patient.

If you could write a quick letter to your father, starting with “Dear Father,” what would you say?

Dear Father,

Be Honest & transparent.

Name some other fathers you cosign.