“The people I met [at PLI] left an indelible mark on my life.”
At the Practitioners Leadership Institute, Dr. Charles Daniels, Jr. found exactly what he needed: a village. The signature Center for Urban Families program brought Dr. Daniels together with others leaders who devote heart and soul to strengthening fathers and families.
Dr. Daniels—cofounder and CEO of Fathers’ UpLift—said the PLI provided space for the fellows to exchange ideas, imagine new solutions, find inspiration, and build their endurance.
“Some of the people I met [at PLI] left an indelible mark on my life during our time together,” said Dr. Daniels, who reflected on the experience from years ago. “The work can be isolating.
The work is draining. We need to create a village.”
Based in the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston, Fathers’ UpLift is a resource for fathers across the country to become more engaged in the lives of their children through mental health counseling, coaching, and advocacy. Their work is focused on lifting up men and families to overcome barriers caused by racism, trauma, and addiction. It is the first mental health and substance abuse treatment facility for fathers and families in the United States, according to Dr. Daniels.
Dr. Daniels and his wife, Samantha Fils-Daniels, founded the organization in 2011. They previously worked as clinicians after earning advanced degrees in social work with specialized certifications. Therapy and mental health interventions are woven into every aspect of their work with fathers.
Fathers’ UpLift offers individualized support to ensure fathers can focus on their mental health by providing necessary resources, such as food assistance and legal advocacy. They also stand in the gap for children whose fathers are absent.
Fathers’ UpLift was several years old when Dr. Daniels traveled to Baltimore for the PLI. Dr. Daniels was familiar with the work at CFUF but eager to learn more and network with other leaders in the field. He said Wendy Blackwell Fortune, who leads the PLI for CFUF, has become a personal mentor.
“She was the heartbeat of the institute,” Dr. Daniels said. “I thank her so much for her support. Wendy was transformative in my life. She is a constant source of inspiration.”
CFUF created the institute in 2011 as a way to empower, educate, and invigorate people and organizations that foster stronger family bonds by promoting self-efficacy, responsible fatherhood, and intergenerational wealth. Most recently, the PLI established seven-month cohorts for grassroots leaders in the Baltimore area who impact positive outcomes for boys and men of color.
Dr. Daniels said especially helpful during his time at the PLI was the exchange of ideas with direct insights from other people doing similar work.
“More resources need to be invested in opportunities like this to sustain those of us working in these fields,” Dr. Daniels said. “We need each other more than we ever did.”