Empowering Black Fatherhood

Fathers' Uplift provides therapy, guidance, and support to fathers, primarily men of color, to help them remain and/or become engaged in their children's lives. Fatherlessness is a crisis in our nation today, especially in urban, minority communities. Across the US, nearly one in four children are growing up fatherless, but in urban settings such as the Bronx or Baltimore this figure frequently surpasses 50%.

Fathers' Uplift was founded by a black couple, Charles Daniels and Samantha Fils-Daniels, with two different experiences with their fathers. Charles grew up without a father. His childhood was largely affected by watching the struggles his mother faced, and the pain that came with questioning his father’s absence. After struggling with the anger stemming from his father’s absence for much of his life, Charles began to think about the things his father experienced that prevented him from remaining active in his life. This line of thinking led to a question that would change his life, and the lives of many, “What if someone had been there to help him?”.  In contrast, Samantha grew up with her father outside of her home, but he always ensured he remained involved and available in her life. Charles and Samantha were able to take their contrasting experience with their fathers and pair their experiences with their education in social work and psychology to begin a new approach to helping fathers and their families to end cycles of fatherlessness.

Since founding Fathers' Uplift, they've devoted their lives to helping fathers, and ensuring that no child will have to endure the upbringing Charles experienced with an absent father. After earning his master's degree, and Ph. D. from the Simmons College School of Social Work, Charles was selected as a member of the Obama Fellowship Program, wrote the book Pre-Father Care: Prenatal Care for Fathers. Together, Charles and Samantha have raised one fantastic son Clayton, and have a daughter SaMya on the way soon.