Tell us more about who you all are and what you do?
Hello, my name is Dr. Raheem Young. Welcome to Fatherhood was created by Sir Royce Briales and I to address the issues of absentee fathers, disenfranchised families, and the lack of positive male role models within many communities. Our work is both familial as well as communal. We understand there are many factors that contribute to a father not being with his family, so we work with dads on a multitude of challenges. These services are designed to address mental health issues, community violence issues, parental engagement, and poverty.
What inspired you to start the Welcome to Fatherhood organization?
The concept for Welcome to Fatherhood was birthed out of discussions around the pressures and feelings of uncertainty Sir Royce and I experienced when expecting children. We formed Welcome to Fatherhood to provide new and seasoned dads with a forum to share their experiences in parenting, relationships, and everyday life.
What are three things you want your community to learn/gain from being involved?
The goals of Welcome to Fatherhood is to help fathers cope with the pressures of fatherhood as well as assist them in developing the skills necessary to improve their families and communities. Through this work, we want to cultivate safer communities, promote positive family values, and help men become physically and mentally healthier.
What type of programs do you offer and who can get involved?
Welcome to Fatherhood is inclusive. We embrace every community member and father that encounters our organization. We respect different points of view and believe diversity fosters improvement. We make every effort to build a culture of respect and an atmosphere where differences are valued.
We work diligently to create worthwhile programs to positively impact fathers, so they can influence their families and communities in positive ways. Welcome to Fatherhood has bimonthly meetings called Parenting Symposiums as well as a bimonthly community outreach project called Father’s Feed. We also conduct research on different aspects of fatherhood and explore the impact of challenges some fathers may face when caring for their children, engaging with the other parent, or just navigating society.
We have a partnership with a counseling organization called Children’s Research Triangle. Through this partnership, we can connect fathers to free 1 on 1 counseling services from licensed mental health professionals. We also have a podcast series called Welcome to Fatherhood (WTF) Dad Interviews where we talk to fathers about their parenting journeys.
Who is Dr. Raheem as a Father?
I can only describe fatherhood as a continuous evolution. I had my first child at the age of 21 and by the time I was 28, I had all 3 of my children. Becoming a father while trying to figure out who I am as a person was a challenge. When my children were younger, I was more of a disciplinarian. Now that my children are 19, 17, and 12, I’ve become more of a mentor for them.
What have you learned about yourself as a dad since starting the organization?
Since starting Welcome to Fatherhood, I’ve learned that I can be a good “juggler.” Starting a business and working with so many different types of people take time and effort. The same goes for raising a family and being an engaged father. I learned I’m able to find balance.
What’s the most impactful thing you’ve noticed from the guys who are a part of your org?
My feelings of inadequacy and uncertainty early on in my parenting journey weren’t exclusive to me. Through our Welcome to Fatherhood discussions, I have learned that many men experience similar feelings starting out as well as through fatherhood.
What’s your definition of “Legacy”?
Leaving foundation or building onto an already existing framework for the people that come after you. This can be material, conceptional, or spiritual.
Where do you see the organization in 5 years?
I would love for Welcome to Fatherhood to be a national organization, where we have satellite groups running programs and community outreach initiatives in different parts of the country.
How can people learn more about your upcoming events and activations?
The best way to learn about Welcome to Fatherhood’s upcoming event and activities is through our website and social media platforms. Our website address is www.wtfatherhood.org. There are links to all our social media on the website.
Tell people what’s next for you, how they can follow you, etc?
We have a lot of exciting things coming up. We have our 3rd annual Thanksgiving Dinner next week as well as a Toy Drive in December. We’re also conducting a few focus groups in December to explore Black men’s knowledge of colorectal cancer. Again, people can follow everything Welcome to Fatherhood has coming up through our website and social media platforms. Thank you.
