DURHAM, N.C. (WTVD) — While many were enjoying a beautiful Saturday outdoors, nearly a dozen men spent hours inside: fathers, father substitutes and guardians attending workshops focused on protecting Black children.
The free workshop, hosted by local nonprofit Empowered Parents in Community (EPIC), gave men an opportunity to openly discuss the challenges they face as black men and the expectations of their community.
“Nationally, mental health is a big issue, and we’ve seen an increase in suicides among Black men, especially since the pandemic,” EPIC Program Director Toia Williams said. “So we think it’s really important to create a space where men can talk about their experiences in a safe space. It’s really hard for men to be vulnerable in front of women. So it was really important for us to give men a safe space to talk about these issues, but more importantly, to build resilience and be able to deal with different traumas that they may experience on a daily basis.”
Durham Mayor Leonard Williams praised the men for already being actively involved in children’s lives and setting an example.
“But we must respect the impact of fatherhood and make space for it to be present again,” he said. “Empower, tolerate, encourage and reclaim the fathers of today. And welcome back the five of us who have left our homes and our children. The position I have taken is that we must be fathers to our communities, not just our own children. It is time for us to be present again, not just for our homes, but for our neighbors and to rebuild our villages.”
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Williams acknowledges that some young men get into trouble if they don’t have a father or father figure or strong male role model at home who can guide them at key times.
“EPIC has been doing community dialogue for the last year and a half to directly address youth violence in our community, so that we can do the best we can to protect our children. So by addressing this issue, we hope that if we can unpack our own trauma, that we can be better and show our children the importance of navigating this world in a healthy way and dealing with these issues in a healthy way,” said Mayor Williams.
Xia Lewis is a father of three boys and hopes his story will encourage others to take part in similar workshops.
“Well, I’m sure there will be a next time, so don’t miss it, but it’s important to listen to your kids’ reactions and take the time to be with them,” he said. “We have some great speakers today who are talking about the challenges of fatherhood, especially being a Black father, so I’m really interested in connecting, learning and doing my part. (I) know the impact of childhood experiences, but that has filtered down to me growing up as an adult and how I parent.”
“They’re here talking to licensed psychologists,” Toia Williams said, “and we can give them tools that they can actually use, but I also want them to have this community and to make connections that help build and strengthen those bonds, and that there are different ways to actually show up and protect their kids.”
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