Joseph Williams founded a nonprofit called Mr. Dad’s Father’s Club. Rita Oceguera for The Trace
By Rita Oceguera, The Trace, June 22, 2023
Many Englewood residents call Joseph Williams “the Black Mr. Rogers.” Just like the friendly television neighbor who celebrated children’s individuality, Williams works with other fathers to build up the youth in his community.
“These children are living adult lives,” Williams said. Many, he noted, are stuck between adults’ quarrels, burdened with caretaking responsibilities, or have already experienced loss. He often thinks about a moment in a pre-k classroom when a little boy shared that his father was dead. “I never forget that,” he said. “We’ve got to be there for those types of children who don’t have a father role model.”
Mr. Dad’s Father’s Club, the nonprofit Williams founded and now leads, uses literacy and mentorship to nurture the social-emotional learning of Chicago youth so that they are better equipped to handle the world around them. This year, they celebrated their fifth annual Father’s Day March, a family-friendly event filled with food, music, games, and giveaways.
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