By Mekhi Abbott
Special to the AFRO
mabbott@afro.com
Based in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, The Capital Youth Empowerment Program (CYEP) is assisting fathers across the nation with parenting, professional development, and mentorship. Their flagship program, Fathers in Tech, lays the foundation for community-driven connection and support.
“Once you are in Fathers in Tech, you are with us for life,” said Everette Mitchell, Operations Manager for CYEP and Fathers in Tech Director.
The month of June is dedicated to recognizing men’s mental health. Fathers in Tech and CYEP are making sure that the mental needs of fathers are being met.
“That’s the role of a father. To guide, to lead and to support your family,” said Reggie Morris, who works as a workforce development director and career coach for CYEP. “But if you’re pouring from an empty cup, you’re never going to be the best version of yourself. So we need to find ways to pour into ourselves. It’s not selfish, it’s just refilling your tank.”
Fathers in Tech is a program that strengthens father involvement by improving their relationships with their kids and helping them build soft skills while also helping dads professionally through networking, technical skill training and employment opportunities.
One of the most important things that Fathers in Tech and CYEP offers is a safe space to speak freely and be vulnerable. Mitchell shared with the AFRO that fathers who participated in Fathers in Tech are able to take a weight off their shoulders because there are many things that fathers hold onto and typically don’t feel comfortable sharing, even with their spouses.
“Our community is so close that guys will let those deep secrets that they’ve been holding in for their entire lives and some even cry during the first meeting because this is a space that isn’t available to them everywhere,” said Mitchell. “They feel that they can let their guard down and talk.”
Mitchell’s passion for his work stems from his personal experience being a young, Black father. He is actively working to dispel any misnomers about absent fatherhood in the Black community.
“I was a young 19-year-old dad and I didn’t have a playbook. I knew my father, but my father wasn’t present in my life. Navigating that space as a teenager– not knowing exactly what direction to go– is scary,” said Mitchell. “It can be scary and it’s a lot of learning on the fly but the good thing about our program is that you have both young dads and seasoned dads. Some are going through the same experiences, sometimes the seasoned veterans school the young fathers but other times the 40-year old father can learn from the 19 year old.
Fathers in Tech and CYEP are dedicated to equipping fathers with the tools they need to be active participants in their children’s lives, but they are equally as committed to making sure that they are building confidence and caring for themselves.
“One of the homework assignments we have in Fathers in Tech is asking our dads to report on what they have done for themselves this past week,” said Morris. “We call it simply nurturing. The lesson I pass on is if you’re not taking care of yourself, how can you care for others?”