We had the good fortune of connecting with Dr. Joe Roberson Jr and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dr. Joe, how does your business help the community?
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 17.8 million children, or 1 in 4, live without a biological, step, or adoptive father in the home. Fatherlessness is an epidemic that transcends racial, cultural, and socio-economic barriers. Our Fatherless Foundation was created to attack this epidemic head-on. Our mission is to help end the fatherless epidemic, one family at a time.

We define fatherlessness as the physical, psychological, or emotional absence of a paternal being or father figure. Fatherlessness often creates an unwieldy hardship for children and burdens their emotional wellbeing and healthy development.

We believe every child is born with promise, a purpose, and incredible potential. We aim to ensure that children are set up for success and have access to a fully equipped, healthy, present, and emotionally intelligent male who can cultivate that success.

Likewise, we believe in the power of active and present fathers. A litany of adolescent societal problems, such as behavioral problems, increased high school dropouts, teen pregnancy, and drug abuse, are directly associated with a lack of consistent male influence in the home.

The Foundation partners with various agencies and nonprofit organizations, legal personnel, institutions, schools, and community leaders to collaborate on providing accessible resources, support groups, training, skill-building, and legitimization advocacy. These partnerships help keep fathers and figures confident, engaged, and better equipped to serve and provide for children and families.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Our Fatherless Foundation is honored to champion the initiative to eradicate fatherlessness. Our mission to end fatherlessness is fulfilled through the four pillars of our C.A.R.E. Initiative: Care, Accountability, Resources, and Education. This comprehensive approach nurtures families by reconnecting fathers and father figures with children, instilling accountability, delivering vital resources, and educating fathers on positive role modeling and techniques for maintaining a healthy balance. Each pillar coincides with a program designed to support our mission.

We are extremely excited about 2024 and the community impact that is ahead. We are rolling out the Present Father Advocacy program in addition to expanding our youth mentoring services to many more deserving kids in our community. Additionally, we are set to host our 3rd annual Father and Son retreat and a host of additional community-serving initiatives.

These initiatives are a direct result of the dedication and support from our volunteers, donors, and community partners. Without their continued commitment, none of this would be possible. We are grateful for their belief in our mission and their willingness to invest their time, resources, and expertise into making a difference in the lives of fathers and children in our community. With their help, we are confident that we will be able to reach even more families and create lasting, positive change. As we look forward to the year ahead, we are filled with hope and excitement for the opportunities that lie ahead.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Great question. Atlanta is a phenomenally diverse city with an abundance of nightlife and culture, so the options are endless. Given my hectic schedule during the week, the weekend is the most I can commit to. That being said, on Friday night, we may dine in the city at 5Church Midtown or STK. After that, visit a cigar bar or a venue with live jazz music, such as Kats Cafe, Sweet Georgia’s Juke Joint, or The Velvet Note. The next morning, we would visit the Georgia Aquarium or the World of Coca-Cola. After that, we’d go to Busy Bees or Hattie B’s for a southern cruisine. Following that, we may all need a siesta to sleep off the ITIS…lol. We’ll cap the evening with a comedy show at the Atlanta Comedy Theater. Sunday would consist of attending Sunday worship at Victory Church and lunch at Flying Biscuit or Milk & Honey.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Without question, there are two people who deserve a shoutout. First, I would like to give honor to my Lord Jesus Christ. Without Him, I am absolutely nothing. Secondly, I want to give a shoutout to my beautiful, intelligent, multi-talented wife and co-founder, Rahkal Roberson. She has been instrumental in taking Our Fatherless Foundation from a divine concept to a living organism with a heartbeat. She brings not only her passion and creativity to the table but also her unwavering dedication and tireless work ethic. Rahkal’s relentless pursuit of our foundation’s mission to provide resources and support to fatherless children has been an inspiration to us all. Her tenacity and commitment have propelled us forward, turning dreams into reality. I am beyond grateful for her influence in my life and the impact she continues to make on our organization.

Website: https://www.ourfatherless.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ourfatherless/ and https://www.instagram.com/drjoejr_

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joeroberson/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ourfatherless

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ourfatherless

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/our-fatherless-foundation-lawrenceville-3?osq=our+fatherless Suggest a Story: CanvasRebe

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjMIeX1o9-pCqSRDCpcVfpw

Image Credits
Madison Truscan Photography

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