LEXINGTON, Ky. — The Commonwealth Center for Fathers and Families concluded a successful three-day event focused on nurturing and empowering fathers. The event, known as the fatherhood summit, attracted around 350 participants, including first-time and seasoned dads, along with father figures, marking its third consecutive year.
Held from [insert dates if available], the summit featured an array of activities, such as workshops, panels, and networking events designed to foster connections between fathers and provide them with valuable resources. William Oliver, a participant and a graduate of the center’s Kentucky Dad Academy, expressed how the program changed his perspective on parenting. “They helped me realize a lot of the inequities that I was going through. I was stuck as a parent,” he stated.
The Commonwealth Center for Fathers and Families, established nearly 11 years ago, aims to support fathers through various services, including training, resources, and grants for other father-figure initiatives across Kentucky. According to Chief Visionary Officer David Cozart, the concept of fatherhood influences numerous sectors, from education to health and parental involvement.
This year’s summit offered an exclusive panel and a networking luncheon, allowing fathers to share their experiences and strategies. Oliver shared a personal story about facing hard times after losing his job, which made him feel unprepared to support his family. His wife encouraged him to reach out to the center, leading him to a six-week course that provided vital support.
“This program helped provide us with the resources and the confidence to reach out and say, I’m not where I want to be and I need help getting to where I need to go,” Oliver added. The center actively connects fathers with opportunities to maintain healthy lifestyles, emphasizing the importance of being engaged parents.
The commitment to fatherhood was a common theme throughout the summit. Participants were encouraged to engage in learning more about their children’s interests and fostering a deeper connection with them. “Our next level motto, our promise to ourselves, is to promote growth within ourselves so that we can promote growth without,” Oliver noted.
The fatherhood summit serves as a vital platform for fathers to gain insights, develop skills, and create networks that promote a healthier family dynamic, ultimately contributing to stronger communities across the state.
