Ruben Watson
Strategic Vision & Agency Partnerships
Connect the initiative’s mission to practical partnerships, a clear strategy, and responsible resource development.
Bio, purpose & contributionOUR PURPOSE
A name. A promise. A legacy.
Goode Fatherhood exists to equip Black fathers with practical tools, emotional resilience, and leadership skills—at every stage of life.
Redefining what we pass down.
Here, “Goode” is a commitment: to presence, accountability, care, and the possibility of growth. A father’s story is bigger than a stereotype. His future should be bigger than the barriers in his way.
Our vision makes room for teen dads, married and single fathers, co-parents, fathers rebuilding relationships, grandfathers, and kinship caregivers. We pair personal growth with practical pathways through the systems families navigate.
THREE GENERATIONS. ONE COMMUNITY.
Choose your chapter.
16–25
Young fathers
Build a foundation while you are still building your own future.
Resources, activities & next steps 26–45Prime-age fathers
Make family connection part of the life you are managing, not another task to fail.
Resources, activities & next steps 46+Elders & grandfathers
Share your wisdom, keep learning, and help the next generation feel supported.
Resources, activities & next stepsOUR LEADERSHIP
People behind the purpose.
Meet the team, understand each role, and explore the professional background available so far.
Vann Lowery Jr.
Community Outreach & Regional Deployment
Make it easier for fathers and local partners to have a voice in how the initiative takes shape.
Bio, purpose & contribution
Maurice Webb
Operations, Fiscal Compliance & Youth Labs
Help good intentions become organized, accountable programs that respect families and resources.
Bio, purpose & contribution
Felipe Blue
Therapy and Counseling
Bring accessible education, emotional honesty, and clinically informed guidance to the initiative’s development.
Bio, purpose & contributionMISSION · VISION · PURPOSE
Present fathers. Supported families. Connected communities.
Equip Black fathers across generations with practical parenting education, meaningful peer connection, and pathways to family, legal, financial, and wellness support. Our vision is that fathers can seek help, share strengths, and lead with care without having to do it alone.
Restore connection
Create room for emotional honesty, repair, belonging, and child-centered relationships.
Equip for everyday life
Build parenting, communication, work-life balance, and systems-navigation skills.
Celebrate and lead
Recognize everyday dedication and develop responsible local leadership.
DEVELOPMENT ROADMAP
A clear plan, with honest milestones.
Self-guided website resources are available now. The following is a proposed pilot roadmap for leadership review. The clock starts after the team approves the scope, budget, staffing, and safeguarding plan; it is not a published event schedule.
Self-guided learning
Maintain the resource hub, Family Connection Plan, Parenting Studio, and public Circle.
Listen and prepare
Confirm leadership information, partnership responsibilities, referral boundaries, and prospective host teams. Draft measurable objectives and a costed budget.
Test local interest
Proposed objective: hold two accessible interest meetings across the Charlotte and Triangle planning areas. Gather city, role, access, and program preferences. Dates and venues are not set.
Pilot a small cohort
Proposed objective: invite up to 20 adult participants to one supported pilot after facilitators, venue, insurance, funding, and referral arrangements are confirmed.
Review and expand responsibly
Review attendance, voluntary feedback, learning participation, and partner capacity before adding chapters or services.
Explore regulated services
Assess transitional housing, licensed childcare, Medicaid provider partnerships, and respite separately. Therapeutic foster care is a distinct later-stage feasibility question.
Projected start dates for facilitated programs: not yet scheduled. Each program needs a readiness review and a confirmed date before enrollment or appointments are advertised.
ILLUSTRATIVE FUNDING PLAN · NOT YET APPROVED
A proposed $50,000 pilot budget.
This planning example makes the funding conversation concrete. It is not an approved fundraising target, spending commitment, grant award, or report of money raised. Actual quotes, restricted-fund requirements, and board approval are still needed.
| Planning area | Illustrative amount |
|---|---|
| Facilitation and cohort delivery | $15,000 |
| Accessible venues, transport and participation support | $10,000 |
| Childcare partnership planning and family activities | $10,000 |
| Legal and clinical referral coordination | $7,500 |
| Volunteer training and safeguarding | $5,000 |
| Evaluation and administration | $2,500 |
| Total planning example | $50,000 |
Funding goals: confirm a costed pilot budget, identify eligible grants and sponsors, secure core delivery costs before launch, and publish approved targets and progress once the team verifies them.
Discuss funding or in-kind support