The Dad Gang - Addressing the Needs of Black Fathers

Sunday Inspiration: Every Sunday, Meet the Visionaries who are inspiring our community.

Photo Credit: The Dad Gang

                                                

Meet Sean Williams

For too long Black fatherhood has been seen through distorted lens. Stories of uninvolved and absentee fathers persist despite the fact that studies like the CDC Report showed that many Black fathers are more engaged with their children than white or Hispanic fathers.  The study further showed that they were more hands-on, and participated more in activities like feeding, clothing and caring for their children than the other groups. Despite this we find their unique social and economic challenges are not addressed in society.  Sean Williams is on a mission to change the perception of Black Fatherhood and give a new voice to African American fathers. After receiving so many lopsided compliments on being a wonderful father for "sticking around" unlike most Black fathers, Sean Williams decided to prove these naysayers wrong and that he was not alone. Thus was born The Dad Gang.

Williams realized the importance of images in changing people's perception so he began by opening an Instagram account called The Dad Gang where he and other fathers like him could post positive pictures debunking the stereotypes. The Dad Gang now has over 130,000 followers. "Williams and his ‘gang’ have encouraged and supported men across the country to be “better” fathers and redefine their individual definitions of fatherhood." 

PHOTO CREDIT: KEVIN JEAN-JACQUES

He describes "The Dad Gang as an organization committed to building community amongst Black fathers globally. We’ve created a safe space for Black men to find camaraderie, support, and turn up a few times a year.

In an Essence Magazine interview he explains his mission, "Here, we defy stereotypes, shatter myths and celebrate black fatherhood everyday. Here is a place where we encourage, teach, support and share tips that can help all fathers become better dads. The Dad Gang has since evolved into a conscious social community of dads on a mission to change the way the world views Black fatherhood by getting together, capturing real dad moments, sharing useful parenting tips and hosting fun, socially impactful events centered around celebrating active dads and their children. 

This Father's Day, June 20 we can celebrate and honor the fathers who are making a difference in our community. Fathers interested in more information or anyone wanting to support them can visit their website and Instagram Account.

Girl Trek

 

Sunday Inspiration: Every Sunday, Meet the Visionaries who are inspiring our community.

Meet T. Morgan Dixon and Vanessa Garrison of Girl Trek

T. Morgan Dixon and Vanessa Garrison are the co-founders of GirlTrek, the largest health movement for Black women in America. "Through national campaigns, community leadership, and health advocacy, they mobilize Black women to be change makers in their lives and communities – simply by walking." The GirlTrek Movement was born in 2010 when the college friends decided to challenge their friends and families to walk with them. "We walk to heal our bodies, inspire our daughters and reclaim the streets of our neighborhoods. They personally saw the toll health problems had on their own family. Their concern was validated by the statistics showing Black women are at higher risk for high blood pressure, heart disease and strokes than white women. They are also more likely to die in childbirth, the culprit maybe the high level of hormonal stress and generational trauma on Black women due to racism. Acknowledging the need for more maternal support, they encourage mothers to prepare for their journey with healthy physical, spiritual and emotional activities. 

Mom To Be - Casey Ferrand

"The goal is to reestablish walking as a healing tradition in Black communities, as tribute to those who walked before us. Our focus is to help save the lives of Black women by inspiring them to take charge of their self-care, to own their joy, to claim what's their best lives,” explains GirlTrek’s Ebony Andrews. “And one of the primary ways we do that is through encouraging community and encouraging walking.” 

Members would walk together in teams but the pandemic has changed that. Now, to unite all of the now-solo walkers across the country,  Andrews said the group launched a podcast, called Black History Bootcamp, focusing on African American women’s history. Their message is always about self care, community and reaching as many women as they can. Today their membership is one million strong and growing. https://www.girltrek.org/

A Day for Rememberin'

 

A Day for Rememberin': Inspired by the True Events of the First Memorial Day 
Author: Leah Henderson Illustrator: Floyd Cooper

Today is a special day. Eli knows it’s important if he’s allowed to miss one second of school, his “hard-earned right.”

Everyone celebrates Memorial Day but few of us know anything about the origin of this holiday. This newly published book by Leah Henderson and illustrated by Coretta Scott King Award winner Floyd Cooper is a moving tribute to the little-known history behind the first Memorial Day.

Inspired by true events and told through the eyes of a young boy, this is the deeply moving story about what is regarded as the first Memorial Day on May 1, 1865. Eli dresses up in his best clothes, Mama gathers the mayflowers, Papa straightens his hat, and together they join the crowds filling the streets of Charleston, South Carolina, with bouquets, crosses, and wreaths. Abolitionists, missionaries, teachers, military officers, and a sea of faces Black, Brown, and White, they march as one and sing for all those who gave their lives fighting for freedom during the Civil War.

With poignant prose and celebratory, powerful illustrations, A Day for Rememberin’ shines light on the little-known history of this important holiday and reminds us never to forget the people who put their lives on the line for their country. The book is written bu Leah Henderson and illustrated by award-winning illustrator Floyd Cooper and includes archival photos in the back matter, as well as an author’s note, bibliography, timeline, and index. Copies can be purchased at Amazon or your local bookstore.

 

Creating Garden Spaces for Black Women

Sunday's Inspiration: Every Sunday, Meet the Visionaries who are inspiring our community.

Rachel Weill Photographer

Meet Leslie Bennett 

I believe in the healing power of gardens. Creating places of respite and beauty that benefit Black communities is crucial. Feeding the soul helps to feed the fight for justice.

After a challenging year, families needs time for healing. For residents of Oakland, CA, the garden spaces created by Leslie Bennett provide a respite and a place of healing  Leslie Bennett is a landscape designer and writer who creates gardens that help to nourish and tell the story of who we are. She created  the Black Sanctuary Gardens Project, a series of garden spaces created for Black women and Black communities in and around Oakland.  As the founder and owner of Pine House Edible Gardens, a landscape design/build firm, Leslie creates aesthetic edible gardens and productive outdoor spaces. Her work entails creating culturally grounded gardens that provide as much visual inspiration as they do organic harvests of food, flowers and medicinal herbs. 

We have known the healing properties of nature for centuries. Most of us are just a generation or two away from the land. We ate from the land, made medicine for healing, and often tried to give back with respect and gratitude. Today we are trying to bring back that sense of wholeness as we reintroduce organic food, herbal remedies and forest bathing into our urban environment. Leslie first experienced the way gardens improve a persons well being ...in a gardening class on an organic farm.  

As she explains in an article in Martha Stewart Magazine, "They're spaces where we can explore who we are and where we come from with plants that make us happy, that are culturally meaningful, and that we can use everyday." In Oakland she has created her own garden retreat plush with fruits and plants that remind her of her Jamaican and English heritage. "It's the happiest place in my life." Now she plans to share her joy and expertise with her community.  The more I can create spaces that are safe, supportive, and restorative for Black women and their communities, the more likely I am to see a future that includes happy, rested, joyful Black people," she explains, "This is the world that I want to see so I'm dedicating myself to building it."

Leslie is the co-author of The Beautiful Edible Garden (Ten Speed Press, 2013)
For more information about Leslie Bennett's work visit http://pinehouseediblegardens.com/about

http://pinehouseediblegardens.com/black-sanctuary-gardens

Photographs: Rachel Weill

Danielle Brook Shares Her Parenting Experience

Photo: Amanda Pratt

 After years of not being represented or having only generic images placed on magazine covers, I was surprised to see Parents Magazine use a picture that actually looks  like a real live Black mother.  Danielle Brook, actress and powerhouse graced the May cover with her daughter, Freeya.  The Netflix and Lifetime star has played Taystee in Orange is the New Black on Netflix and Mahalia Jackson on a Lifetime movie.  Now Danielle is tackling her new role as mother, and surprised by her own parenting style. She always imagined she’d be a strict parent, until she had her daughter. After some disagreement with her mother,  she now realizes that she just wants Freeya to feel free to explore her environment and learn to make good decisions. As she explains in the article, “Her name’s Freeya. Part of me is like, ‘Just let that baby be free.” She has also discovered that motherhood has made her more fearless and more patient.

“Now I feel hopeful because I know how I’m going to raise my child. There’s one better human being in this world,” she said. “It’s work on the parents’ part to show our kids love. I pray I raise my daughter to be street smart and be able to tackle the world and not be defeated by it. Motherhood has been good. It feels good on me.”

Black Motherhood is not a monolithic experience, and the joy of mothering comes in many shades and sizes. Our stories are just beginning to be told. Hopefully, Black couples will also be featured on covers. 

Danielle's story is so  refreshing to hear, and you can learn more about her birth story on Netflix's Youtube, A Little Bit Pregnant.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAfv_PnPjY8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKMajKMQ5RM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfA4w7qy0pA

Through The Night Examines the Personal Cost of Childcare

Sunday's Inspiration: Happy Mother's Day

Every Sunday, Meet the Visionaries who are inspiring our community.

Meet Loira Limbal

Through the Night is a documentary that explores the personal cost of  motherhood for families in this country.  The story centers around two working mothers and a child care provider, whose lives connect at a 24-hour daycare center in New Rochelle, New York.  Loira Limbal’s film gives an insightful view of Dee’s Tots Daycare in New Rochelle which provides 24 hour child care for  a houseful of children who range in age from infants to tweens.  Most of the parents who bring their kids to Deloris “Nunu” and Patrick “Pop Pop” Hogan are single mothers working endlessly long hours to keep their families afloat. Limbal, the filmmaker is also a single parent who holds down a full time job. In her film she examines the realities of everyday life for a working mother and how it affects the whole family and community. In an economic system that keeps mothers away from their children for long periods of time, Nunu provides the nurturing and care for their children.  The kids arrive at all hours, depending on their parents’ work schedules. Each evening the playroom becomes a dormitory of gym mats and blankets for the children whose mothers work night shifts. As Nunu explains, “This is the way the world is set up at this point.” Despite these inequities, Limbal captures and celebrates the hope, care and resilience of both the caregivers and the mothers. "This place is magical and this is a love letter to caregivers (who sacrifice to give life to the next generation."  Through the Night can be seen on PBS TV starting May 10 at 10 pm. Check local listing. You can see an interview with the filmmaker, Loira Limbal talking about her work at  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mc9zldp9Wl8.

Basetsana Kumalo Celebrates Her Birthday By Paying Forward

 Sunday Inspiration: Sharing Black Joy

Every Sunday, Meet the Visionaries who are inspiring our community.

I love life. I make each day count. I live a life of gratitude.

I know my life purpose and that  gives me a sense of direction.

(So) I wake up everyday and show up for my purpose.

Basetsana Kumalo

During troubling times, we need to hear stories of empowerment and caring. With so much disturbing news,  I love to hear positive stories that inspire and make me smile.  Basetsana's story exemplifies the joy of giving and the spirit of Ubuntu. For South Africans, "Ubuntu represents love, truth, peace, happiness, eternal optimism, inner goodness, and the  recognition that we are all one. Ubuntu is the essence of a human being, the divine spark of goodness inherent within each being. They believe that from the beginning of time the divine principles of Ubuntu have guided African societies." And it is wonderful to see someone put that into practice.