Jason Allen
Jason B. Allen is a Special Education teacher in Georgia. Jason has worked in Education for over fifteen (15) years as a teacher and leader servicing students, families and communities. He uses he platform to empower Black male educators to advocate for social justice through his work with Profound Gentlemen.As an education activist and blogger (EdLanta), Jason actively speaks and writes on ways to improve educational outcomes. He is a member of the Association of American Educators (AAE) and an AAE Foundation Advocacy Fellow.
Chris Broussard
Chris is an internationally-known sports analyst and commentator for the FOX Sports 1 television network and FOX Sports Radio. Nowadays, he can be seen regularly on FS1’s “Undisputed,’’ “The Herd,’’ “First Things First,’’ and “Lock It In." He also serves as co-host, along with Rob Parker. Before joining FOX Sports in the Fall of 2016, Chris worked for 12 years as an NBA analyst and reporter at ESPN, ESPN The Magazine, and ESPN.com.Chris is also the Founder and President of a National Christian Men's organization called The K.I.N.G. Movement. K.I.N.G. stands for Knowledge, Inspiration and Nurture through God, and seeks to help boys and men reach their God-given potential in every realm of life.
Kimberly A. Dent
She brings 22 years of government experience to the fathers and families she serves in Ohio. The Ohio Commission on Fatherhood provides funding to Responsible Fatherhood programs throughout the state and makes policy recommendations. The Commission also trains professionals and engages the community regarding the vital role fathers play in their children’s lives.During her time with the government, Ms. Dent has served in various capacities in the local and state Child Support Programs such as a child support caseworker at the local level, a program consultant, a business analyst and a Human Services Program Administrator in County Services, Policy as well as Outreach, Education and Grants Management units at the State Office of Child Support.
Ms. Dent has also served as a commissioner on the Ohio Commission on Fatherhood, representing the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. Ms. Dent holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Pittsburgh and a master’s degree in Public Policy and Administration from Ohio University. She is working on her PhD in Public Policy and Administration, Specializing in Law.
Pastor Roy Barrett
Pastor Roy Barrett is the founder and senior pastor of Discover Life Church (Norcross, GA), a growing non-denominational ministry purposed to help individuals Discover life In Christ. As a native of Jacksonville, Florida and a graduate of Morehouse College, Pastor Barrett has devoted his life to serving and equipping the Body of Christ.He has served faithfully for over 25 years of ministry in various capacities such as Youth Minister, Christian Education Minister, College Ministry Director, Maturity Director and Senior Pastor where he focuses on challenging believers to maximize their potential in God and bring change within their spheres of influence.
Dr. Jamal Bryant
Visionary. Civil rights activist. Community organizer. Dr. Jamal-Harrison Bryant combines sound Biblical teaching, business acumen and political insight to propel the Body of Christ to action and greater levels of faith. Since his youth, Dr. Bryant has prevailed against the odds – rising from G.E.D to Ph.D. Prior to pastoring, he served as the national youth and college director of the NAACP for six years, where he helped to mobilize over 70,000 youth worldwide in non-violent campaigns.In December 2018, Dr. Bryant was appointed the Senior Pastor of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia, Georgia. His leadership efforts have already begun to strengthen the multi-generational bond among members, expand community outreach, cultivate families and expand the church’s cultural significance.
David Cozart
David has been a father/family advocate, a community organizer, and minister for over 25 years. His service and ministry have always occurred both inside and outside the walls of faith in the form of his leadership to the Lexington Leadership Foundation Fatherhood Initiative, Fayette County Public Schools Equity Council, Mayors Commission of Racial Equality, several community-based projects; and board engagement.Over time he has coordinated multiple events, activities, and programs aimed at the restoration of the institution of fatherhood and raising awareness of the challenges related to father absence, including the newly formed Commonwealth Center for Fathers and Families poised to enhance positive fatherhood engagement/programming across Kentucky.
Shawn Dove
Shawn Dove is the Chief Executive Officer of the Campaign for Black Male Achievement (CBMA), a national membership organization committed to improving the life outcomes for Black men and boys.Under Dove’s leadership, CBMA has leveraged more than $212 million in national and local funds for Black Male Achievement, and has grown to include nearly 6,000 individual and 3,000 organizational members across the U.S.
Bishop Darren A. 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. He is the current pastor of Bethel Baptist Church in New Jersey.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.
Brandon Frame
Brandon Frame is a visionary leader, social innovator and educator. He is the Founder & Chief Visionary Officer of TheBlackManCan, Inc. an award-winning nonprofit that amplifies the stories of what Black Men and Boys can do. Guided by his vision TheBlackManCan, Inc. has impacted over 10,000 Black Men and Boys across the world, established a MENtor network of over 500 Black Men and built a socially conscious online community that has over 500,000 followers and generates 7 million impressions weekly.Accomplishments and accolades are no stranger to Brandon Frame, but what makes him extraordinary is the humility and servant-leadership that marks his life.
Dr. Jeff Gardere
Dr. Jeff Gardere, better known as “America’s Psychologist”, was born in Manhattan and raised in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. His parents were born in Haiti. Dr. Jeff attended Brooklyn Technical High School and earned his BA from The University of Rochester. He earned a Masters degree from Columbia University, and a Masters and Ph.D. in philosophy and clinical psychology from the George Washington University.Dr. Jeff is a Board Certified Clinical Psychologist and Assistant Professor and Course Director of Behavioral Medicine, Cultural Competence and Behavior and Public Health, at the Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine in New York City
Griff
Orator, US Army Military Intelligence Veteran and Nationally Syndicated On-Air Personality “GRIFF” is the founder of the Process Success Foundation an organization that teaches young people steps to be great. With an unforgiving wanderlust spirit “GRIFF” became the first American to tape Comedy Central Africa and recently celebrated 25 years of Stand up Comedy.This author of 'Cats and Puppies' (a book for moms raising sons from the perspective of a boy raised by his 15 year old mother) and father of five has forged his career at the intersection of faith, philanthropy, and humor. With an infectious energy and unmistakable voice, “GRIFF” contributes laughter, sincerity, and a real world approach to living inspiration out loud.
Dr. Sidney Hankerson
Dr. Hankerson is a Co-Director of the Columbia University Wellness Center and Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at Columbia University, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. He completed a NIMH-funded research fellowship focused on partnering with Faith-Based Organizations (FBOs) to reduce mental health disparities.He participated in the White House Dialogue on Men’s Health after publishing the first-ever depression screening study in African American Churches.
Joseph T. Jones, Jr.
Joseph T. Jones, Jr. is founder/CEO of the Center for Urban Families (CFUF), a Baltimore, Maryland nonprofit service organization established to empower low-income families by enhancing both the ability of women and men to contribute to their families as wage earners and of men to fulfill their roles as fathers.Mr. Jones is now a national leader in workforce development, fatherhood and family services programming, and through his professional and civic involvement influences policy direction nationwide.
Kenneth Braswell
Kenneth Braswell is the Chief Executive Officer of Fathers Incorporated, a widely recognized national and international nonprofit organization supporting fathers, practitioners, researchers, and policymakers that provides capacity building services to thousands of organizations working to ensure that fathers contribute to the healthy well-being of their children.He brings 30 years of collective work experience managing and leading fatherhood and community programs. Additionally, he serves as the National Director of the National Responsible Fatherhood Clearing House (NRFC) directing and guiding the strategic activities of the NRFC.
Dr. Janice Kelly
Dr. Janice Kelly has an earned doctorate from Columbia University, Teachers College in Communication and Education. She serves as a board member on Fathers Incorporated and the editorial board for the Center for the study of Men and Masculinity at Stony Brook University. She conducts workshops on ‘Family, School, and Community Engagement,’ ‘Inclusive vs. Command Language: Building Bridges through Effective Communication,’ and ‘Diversity and Multigenerational Training.’Her academic articles have appeared in several journals and was a guest editor for Fathering: A Journal of Theory, Research and Practice about Men as Fathers. She is a co-author of Deconstructing Dads: Changing Images of Fathers in Popular Culture. She serves as the Chair of the Department of Communication at Molloy College.
Dr. Jerome Maultsby
Dr. Jerome Maultsby, affectionately known as “Dr. Jerome”, did his undergrad studies at Seattle University, majoring in sociology and psychology. He earned both his Doctor of Transpersonal Psychology and Master of Divinity from the Theological Institute of Transpersonal Psychology.Dr. Maultsby also served as President of the Board of Directors and professor on the curriculum development committee at that Theological Institute. Currently has a private practice Ignite the Power Within (IPW) in Decatur Georgia, he is also the CO- Founder, Dean and facilitator for the Transcendent Life Coaching Institute.
David Miller
Baltimore native, David Miller, has received international acclaim for Dare to Be King: What If the Prince Lives. A Survival Workbook for African American Males, a thought-provoking, 52-week curriculum teaching adolescent males how to survive and thrive in toxic environments.Armed with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from The University of Baltimore and a Master’s degree in Education from Goucher College, Miller frequently leads conversations with men and boys focused on boyhood, fatherhood, parenting, mental health, managing anger, decision making, and alternatives to violence. Miller has provided extensive training for juvenile justice, youth development, and mentoring organizations in the U.S. and abroad.
Armon R. Perry
Armon R. Perry, Ph.D., MSW is a Professor and Director of the BSW Program at the University of Louisville’s Kent School of Social Work. Dr. Perry teaches Introduction to Social Work. Dr. Perry’s research interests include fathers’ involvement in the lives of their children, leading him to co-edit, Fatherhood in America: Social Work Perspectives in a Changing Society, a comprehensive edited volume addressing the micro and macro factors shaping paternal involvement.Currently, Dr. Perry serves as the Principal Investigator of the 4 Your Child Program, a federally funded multi-site project that aims to increase non-resident fathers’ capacity for paternal involvement. In addition to his teaching and research, Dr. Perry has professional experience in the areas of child protective services and as a parent education curriculum facilitator.
Ed Reed
Ed Reed is a Virginia native with over a decade of experience in state/federal politics, nonprofit organization, and state government. Ed currently serves as the Program Director at Fair Count, Inc, based in Atlanta, Georgia. At Fair Count he is the staff liaison for the Black Men Count initiative, he cultivates relationships between Fair Count and community-based partners, and supervises the faith, technology, and field programs.Ed graduated from Hampton University with a B.S. Degree in Business Management and later graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University's Minority Political Leadership Institute.
Stephen Powell
Stephen Powell is the chief programs and partnerships officer of the National CARES Mentoring Movement, founded by Essence Magazine’s Editor-in-Chief Emeritus Susan L. Taylor; he leads and oversees the organization’s program expansion, partnership development, training and technical assistance efforts.Prior to joining the National CARES Mentoring Movement, Stephen served as the executive director of Mentoring USA for ten years. Powell’s past commentaries on leadership, organizational strategy and mentoring can be found in the New York Times, Huffington Post, Black Enterprise, the Costco Connection and other leading national publications. He resides in NJ with his wife and two children.
Ron Walker
Ron Walker has over 45 years of experience serving as a teacher, principal, staff developer, and consultant in various educational communities. Currently, Ron serves as the Executive Director and is a founding member of the Coalition of Schools Educating Boys of Color (COSEBOC). The mission of COSEBOC, founded in 2007, is to connect, inspire, support and strengthen school leaders dedicated to the social, emotional and academic development of boys and young men of color.
Patrick J. Patterson
Patrick J. Patterson, MSW, MPH is President of Global Partners for Fathers and Families Consulting, LLC, a firm that specializes in growing the capacity and funding for agencies focused on empowering fathers, men, and boys.As a fund development expert, Patrick has written and led grant writing efforts that have successfully resulted in more than $55 Million in grant awards from Federal, State, and Private Foundation funding sources, including multi-million-dollar Federal grant awards during both President George W. Bush & President Barack Obama Administrations.
Dr. Matisa Wilbon
Dr. Matisa Wilbon is a wife, mother, author, speaker, educator and consultant. She earned her B.A. in Anthropology/Sociology from Centre College in Danville, KY. She received her Master’s and Doctorate degrees in Sociology from The Ohio State University. A tenured associate professor, she teaches university courses centered on her research interests: introduction to sociology, crime and the media, juvenile delinquency, race and ethnicity and structural inequality.Dr. Wilbon has a unique way of communicating her scholarship practically to transform families, communities and the church. In addition to teaching, Dr. Wilbon is an active researcher. She has conducted research on substance prevention and intervention and neighborhood violence prevention, publishing articles in these areas.
Dr. Gerry White
Dr. Gerry L. White is currently an Assistant Professor with Clark Atlanta University, Whitney M. Young, Jr School of Social Work where he teaches Social Policy and Research Methods in the doctoral program. He has given nearly 23 years to the Social Work profession providing group and family counseling services and promoting the importance of father involvement. He is the owner of Program Evaluation Station, LLC, an organization that provides psycho-educational groups, family sessions and program evaluations.
Darrel Young
Darrel was born and raised in Amityville, New York. He is a nine-year NFL veteran, playing for the Washington Redskins, where he served as team captain for 3 consecutive years, was the recipient of the Byron Whizzer Award for Community MVP and won the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award in 2014. He also played for the Carolina Panthers and the Chicago Bears. He is the current manager of NFL Player Engagement and Relations working with multiple departments to drive league activations during calendar events.
James Murray
James Murray is a Senior Advisor in the Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE) within the Administration for Children and Families (ACF). As advisor, he develops strategic partnerships to increase OCSE’s positive impacts in the areas of responsible fatherhood and veterans outreach.Before joining OCSE, he was the Acting Director of ACF’s Office of Regional Operations. There he provided executive leadership to ten regional offices on integrating and coordinating cross cutting, human service programs. Before joining ACF, James held positions in the education and non-profit fields, including positions with Early Head Start and the National Fatherhood Initiative. James has a Master of Public Administration degree and a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Development.
He is also a Senior Fellow of the Partnership for Public Service’s Excellence in Government Fellows program, a leadership development program tailored to the needs of high-performing, senior-level federal employees.
Dr. Jeffery Shears
Jeffrey Shears is a joint appointed Professor in the Social Work Departments at North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University & UNC Greensboro, where he is also the Director of the Joint Masters Social Work Program (JMSW).Dr. Shears earned his BSW and Masters in Education Administration from North Carolina A&T State University and his PhD in Social Work from the University of Denver. His research interest is men (fathering, multicultural issues, HIV and AIDS) and quantitative research with an emphasis on data sharing among social service agencies.
In addition, Dr. Shears has an extensive list of academic publications on fathering featured in national and internationally refereed journals. He is co-author of the acclaimed “What all Dads Should Know” (Createaspace Publishers, 2011).