GREATER GRAND CROSSING — Joseph Williams founded Mr. Dad’s Father’s Club six years ago, not anticipating what it would become.
Williams’ nonprofit mentors South Side men and fathers to be present in children’s lives and helps children develop social and emotional skills in the classroom and beyond.
In a few short years, Mr. Dad’s Father’s Club grew from one person — Williams — reading books in his daughter’s classroom to 150 men volunteering at 15 schools as part of Mr. Dad’s Bookshelf.
Williams started Mr. Dad’s Summer Explorers on his own dime so young people could have a paid summer experience. Mr. Dad’s Community Garden, coming soon to the corner of 66th Street and Union Avenue, will transform city-donated land into a public space where neighbors can dine among the flowers.
Now, Williams’ nonprofit finally has a place to call home.
Mr. Dad’s Father’s Club will celebrate the grand opening of its office and community hub, 32 E. 69th St., with a ribbon-cutting ceremony noon Saturday. Mr. Dad, the nonprofit’s mascot, will help get the party going, Williams said.
“One thing we know is that kids need their dads and dads need their kids,” Williams said. “This is only the start of what we’re going to add to the community.”
Families can visit the Greater Grand Crossing office for storytime sessions in the Reading Corner led by men in the nonprofit. Parents can shop for free once a week at Mr. Dad’s Marketplace in the office, which will be stocked with clothes, books, school supplies and more.
Young people can drop in for one-on-one mentorship or to do homework and work on their resumes on the nonprofit’s laptops. Mr. Dad’s mentors can learn Spanish or get certifications in cooking and other skills, thanks to a partnership between the nonprofit and Chicago Public School’s Family and Community Engagement department.
Families can use the office to host birthday parties and other events, Williams said. And on the weekends, Williams will host giveaways, community barbecues and summer celebrations outside.
When Williams started Mr. Dad’s Father’s Club, he played the role of founder and mascot.
After reading books to his daughter’s Beasley Academic Center classroom, Williams would tell them a “special guest” was waiting to meet them, then sprint out of the classroom to change into his Mr. Dad mascot suit. He wasn’t fooling anyone, he said.
These days, Williams has a team of volunteers to help with events. Someone else now wears the Mr. Dad mascot suit.
“The doors are really open for everything. If you need resources you can get them. Fathers who want to make a change and get involved, we’re giving you that outlet. If you need that support yourself, we can help build you up,” Williams said.
If you drive past the nonprofit’s office, you might see Vincent Sims sweeping the place or handing out flyers to families. Sims joined Mr. Dad’s Father’s Club six months ago after walking by the office and meeting Williams, he said. He lives down the street at 66th Street and Perry Avenue.
Sims told Williams he needed a job, “one thing led to another,” and he’s been with the nonprofit ever since, Sims said.
“As a Black man, I feel that we should want to be involved in our kids’ lives and be a positive role model instead of all the negativity they see today,” Sims said. “If they know you’re there for them and they can come and talk to you, it might keep them from going astray.”
Sims, who has lived in the community his entire life, said there was nothing like Mr. Dad’s Father’s Club when he was growing up. It’s important that there is now, he said.
“Like my mother always told me, ‘Don’t send your child somewhere. Take them there.’ I think that will have a big impact on the community,” Sims said.
Laurence Phillips has been a mentor with Mr. Dad’s Father’s Club for nearly two years, he said. Phillips sought out Williams after hearing young people rave about his program and joined the nonprofit after working as a coordinator with the One Summer Chicago program.
Phillips spends most days reading books to classrooms, helping at elementary schools and “being a support system and role model for children,” Phillips said. He’ll continue that mission at the nonprofit’s community center.
“Working with children made me understand humanity and how to be a better person by leading through example,” Phillips said. “I didn’t really have that growing up in my life. We didn’t have too many male figures who led by example. When I see it come from me unknowingly, it’s just amazing. It’s a true blessing.”
Williams said while it’s difficult to find time to reflect on the impact Mr. Dad’s Father’s Club has had, he only has to look around at the fathers he works with, students excelling academically and young men like Phillips leading by example to get the picture.
“We hope to continue to be intentional about our programming and how we affect our fathers and impact our community,” Williams said. “We’re looking at this with a holistic approach. The only way to better our community is to better the people in our community.”
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