Webinar Date: October 15, 2025, 1 pm ET/12 pm CT
Black fathers are pillars of strength, care, and cultural continuity in their families and communities. Yet, too often, their roles are overlooked or undermined by policies and systems that fail to recognize the breadth of their contributions. From single custodial fathers and social fathers to queer and gender-expansive dads, Black fatherhood encompasses diverse experiences that deserve visibility, respect, and institutional support.
This webinar, inspired by the Our Dreams Won’t Be Deferred report, will spotlight how public policy and practice can shift from exclusion to empowerment. Panelists will explore reforms to child support, housing, education, and reentry systems that strengthen — rather than penalize — Black fathers. Topics will include:
- Ending harmful income imputation and ensuring child support policies prioritize families
- Creating housing and welfare policies that reflect the realities of co-parenting and multi-adult households
- Embedding father engagement in education and early learning
- Supporting family reunification in reentry and sentencing alternatives
Join us for a conversation that reframes fatherhood through an equity lens and elevates strategies to ensure Black fathers can thrive as providers, nurturers, and culture-bearers — shaping stronger futures for their children and communities.
Rev. Cornell Jones (he/him)
Group Violence Intervention Coordinator for the City of Pittsburgh
Bio
Rev. Cornell Jones is a pastor, activist, mentor, father and husband. He is currently the Group Violence Intervention Coordinator for the City of Pittsburgh where he brings outreach teams and law enforcement together to counteract and prevent violence in the Community. Rev. Jones served as the Protestant Chaplain at SCI Pittsburgh Prison (formerly known as Western Penitentiary) for over 10 years. While working in the prison, he was involved in many crisis de escalating and gang prevention teams such as: Security Threat Group Team, CISM, and the CERT team. He is a crisis chaplain and a trained member of the National Organization of Victim Assistance (NOVA) where he assists people who have been victims of large scale crimes. He recently launched an internet radio station, WXCN Power Radio, with programs to train returning citizens from the prison system. Rev. Jones is a workforce development specialist, a violence prevention specialist, an advisory member of the Allegheny County Violence Prevention Advisory Board and a member of My Brother’s Keeper Committee for the City of Pittsburgh, (founded by President Obama). He was recently featured in the newly published book called “YNGBLKPGH”, which focuses on Pittsburgh’s young leadership and mentors.
Waldo E. Johnson, Jr., Ph.D. (he/him)
Vice Provost and Professor, University of Chicago Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice
Bio
Waldo E. Johnson, Jr. is Professor at the Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice and Vice Provost for Diversity + Inclusion at the University. His scholarship examines the life course roles and context socialization of urban African American males, focusing on nonresident fatherhood, masculinity, and health disparities. He edited Social Work with African American Males: Health, Mental Health and Social Policy (Oxford, 2010).
His research affiliations include the Institute for Social Research, the Center for Research on Ethnicity, Culture and Health (CRECH), and the Scholars Network on Masculinity and the Wellbeing of African American Men, at the University of Michigan. In addition, Johnson has consulted with the U.S. Administration for Children and Families (ACF) Framing Responsible Fatherhood group. He has held key roles with the Council on Social Work Education, the Society for Social Work and Research, and Temple University’s Fatherhood Research Network. Johnson is a Fellow of the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare.
Keynon Lake (he/him)
Founder & Executive Director,
KL Training Solutions &
My Daddy Taught Me That
Bio
Keynon Lake, a native of Asheville, North Carolina, is a former collegiate and professional
basketball player who redirected his passion toward public service. For nearly 20 years, he
served with Buncombe County Health & Human Services in Child Protective Services and
Community Engagement. In 2012, he launched My Daddy Taught Me That (MDTMT)—first as
a book, then a movement that evolved into a comprehensive youth mentoring organization. As
Founder and Executive Director of KL Training Solutions (KLTS), Keynon leads one of Western
North Carolina’s largest Black-led organizations, dedicated to transforming lives through
mentorship, education, and workforce development. Under his leadership, KLTS operates eight
major initiatives, including: IMPACT Academy: academic support for reading and math, led by
licensed teachers and culturally responsive mentors. IMPACT Coaches: trained mentors bridging
academic and social gaps in and beyond schools. Job Training & Workforce Development:
connecting youth with hands-on training through local partnerships. Ambassador
Program: developing long-term youth leaders who transition into mentorship roles. MDTMT
Lions Track Team and MSTMT Girls Basketball Team: using sports to teach discipline,
leadership, and teamwork. KLTS also leads Buncombe County’s Community Violence
Prevention Initiative, aligning law enforcement, schools, and grassroots organizations to reduce
violence and strengthen neighborhoods. The organization’s results speak volumes—95% high
school graduation rate, no incarcerations or violent incidents in over a decade, and a permanent
facility gifted by the City of Asheville in 2023. A dynamic speaker and visionary leader,
Keynon’s relational, culturally responsive approach has reshaped youth development in
Asheville and Buncombe County. Above all, he is a devoted husband to Jacquelyn Lake, proud
father to Layla and Kyas, and loving bonus dad to Alyssa—building a home and movement
grounded in love, service, and transformation.
Marquess Dennis (he/him)
Founder & Executive Director, Birthright Living Legacy
Bio
As the Founder and Executive Director of Birthright Living Legacy, Marquess has demonstrated a lifelong commitment to leadership and community service. He is a proud recipient of the 2024 Oklahoma Parent Leader of the Year award and serves on the Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) for the Oklahoma Family Support Network. A certified trainer in multiple impactful programs, he specializes in Protective Factors, ACE Interface through NEAR Science, Parent Cafés, Hope-Driven Parenting, and the Raising Highly Capable Kids curriculum. His expertise and passion for supporting families extend through his involvement on several boards, including the Oklahoma Post Adjudication Review Board (PARB), Women Helping Other Women, Tulsa Lawyers for Children and the Child Abuse Network (C.A.N.). Beyond these roles, he dedicates time to the American Red Cross, volunteers with CASA, and the Tulsa Dream Center, and is an active member of the Kiwanis Club. His leadership continues to grow as Policy Council member for Tulsa Educare and a commissioner for the City of Tulsa’s Greater Tulsa African American Commission. Marquess is a dedicated family man, married to Crystal Dennis and father to five children and those that were lost through miscarriage. He is an active member of the Tulsa community and a passionate advocate for fatherhood and leadership.
