The AAMWA “Cooking With Dad” event has grown in popularity since its inception.
The story about absentee Black fathers that America has told for decades is not the whole story. In 2023, 47.5 percent of Black children lived without a father in the home, the lowest it has been since 1973.
More than half of the nation’s Black children are growing up with their dads in the home. Yet the narrative about Black fatherhood has been slow to catch up to the reality.
A child sits, curled up, on a porch.
In Franklin County, more than half of children are not kindergarten-ready before attending school. In Columbus, one organization is making sure the record gets set straight.
The African American Male Wellness Agency (AAMWA) established “Calling All Dads,” a multi-purpose initiative focused on strengthening family engagement and addressing challenges impacting fathers and children through both systemic approaches and interpersonal support.
“Through Calling All Dads and our Fatherhood Initiative, we’ve seen increased engagement from fathers who previously felt disconnected from traditional systems of support,” said Jamail Johnson, vice president of AAMWA. “We’ve seen men return year after year, bring other fathers with them, and become more active in their children’s lives.”
AAMWA takes on the responsibility of developing and delivering a vast collection of assistance for Black fathers.
Fathers who take the Proud Dad Pledge, a vow to be active in their child’s life, gain access to ongoing resources, events, and tools designed to help them raise kindergarten-ready children.
David Williams holds his two children at the latest “Bowling With Dad” event.
David Williams, a father who attended the event expressed his joy.
“It [Bowling with Dads] means everything to me,” Williams said. He mentioned that it is a blessing to be in his kids lives and to spend time with them.
Signature programs like “Cooking with Dad” pairs fathers and children with celebrity chefs for healthy meal demonstrations to strengthen bonds through shared learning experiences.
A Father and daughter smile for a selfie and hold up their culinary creations during a “Cooking With Dad” event.
Children with active fathers are 43 percent more likely to excel in school, fathers are provided training and resources to help them be more engaged in their children’s lives.
“Moving forward, we’re expanding fatherhood programming to be more year-round and more integrated with workforce, mental health, and wellness services. The goal is to build long-term systems that help Black fathers thrive as parents, partners, and leaders in their homes and communities,” says Johnson.
AAMWA also has a network of organizations focused on supporting fathers known as “The Fatherhood Coalition” where men can get connected to child support services, career coaching, and legal support.
On Saturday, June 6, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, 1777 East Broad Street, AAMWA will host Dads Matter Day. This convivial gathering of families will provide fathers with access to resources like fatherhood workshops and family engagement activities.
The event is free, sponsored by Franklin County Board of Commissioners, Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority, Jobs and Family Services, and will also consist of a BBQ and a car show.
