By Dianne Anderson

Before the grades, first the goals.

A small but powerful circle of dads is getting back to school for a safe space to share their own stories about tackling the tough challenges for kids and themselves, learning to advocate, and getting support from a system that usually keeps them out of the loop.

It’s all about the needs of Black fathers, helping their students with a sense of belonging, and a goal of boosting their grades.

Gerald Brown, who leads the program, said it’s a real way to connect with other men in the same situation with programming to get them the answers they need.

“We tell them they’re trying to find ways to interact with the school. We tell them who to talk to, we know who to funnel the parents to at certain school sites. We make the connection,” said Brown, coordinator of A Father’s Voice: Black Men’s Empowerment Circle.

There, the men learn how to deal with systemic issues or obstacles to their child’s success. One area is addressing any achievement gaps, and making sure that Black students know the importance of A-G completion, required for most colleges.

Dads come out and make their voices heard on their concerns, and get the encouragement and guidance needed for their students. Traditionally, he said schools have not been very inviting to the Black community, and likewise, dads haven’t been rushing in to get involved.

Brown feels it’s all about going that extra mile to get them in the door.

“There’s a lot of that. Before this position I was a parent facilitator. You hear about what the dads are saying, but this space helps them feel welcome and gives them an opportunity to talk about what’s bothering them. We try to take that info and use it to make changes in the district,” said Mr. Brown, a Teacher on Special Assignment for Middle School Programs at the LBUSD Center of Black Student Excellence.

The program, connected with Sankofa Parent Village, offers a variety of support for all parents and caregivers of Black children in the LBUSD, including A Father’s Voice, as part of the Black Student Achievement Initiative and the Center of Black Student Excellence. Meetings are held monthly, typically from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. at 1022 E. Market Street in Long Beach, with parking at the corner of Market and Olive.

As the dads get into the process and feel their safe space, they keep coming back.

Multi-generational participation has been strong. Some old dads, some grandads, some young dads, they all bring wisdom to the table on how to deal with the complexities of life and the system.

“I always let the fathers know we also deal with personal issues too. I let them know I may not have all the answers, but I’m pretty sure someone in the room has been through something similar,” he said.

Some common concerns on repeat are usually that Black boys are misunderstood, or just not tolerated. Dads want to know how to better interact with the school, and how to support their children.

“Some of the things we come across, misunderstandings, how a teacher may not understand, especially their sons. They think they are being disrespectful, but it’s just the way they are. Cultural differences are causing some problems,” he said.

What stands out the most to him is how the program focuses on the experiences of Black fathers and Black male guardians rather than traditional parent engagement programs.

Stress and healing are also front and center to help dads gain perspective and decompress. Different speakers come in and cover many hot topics that the men want to know about for themselves and their families.

“It might be a therapist that goes over things they can do to alleviate some of those pressures in life. We have different topics. We have mental health; we also have someone come in to talk about men’s health. Each month is different.”

Getting more men involved is the priority, and he is excited about the kind of wisdom that is shared during meetings, and how the men seem to help each other move forward.

“I don’t have all the answers. You have the older and younger dads and different perspectives on how to address different situations. After a few minutes they start talking, they usually start opening up and have different viewpoints,” he said.

The program was designed to center on the unique experiences, voices, and cultural identities of Black fathers and male guardians.

He commended LBUSD for its support for the program because most school districts in general haven’t been welcoming to Black parents and students.

“Sometimes traditional engagement overlooks that. We are appreciative of the district because they allow us to have a program like this. You really don’t hear of programs like this in other districts,” he said. “This is a culturally affirming space where fathers connect without judgment.”

To get involved with A Father’s Voice, call (562) 366-2245 or see https://www.lbschools.net/departments/deputy-superintendent/bsai/cbse/parent-community-engagement