Stevens and Diaz discuss connecting city fatherhood initiatives with state efforts

Thank you, Senator, for being here.

I guess I have a couple questions.

One, I spoke to the OCFS commissioner as well, and she's also talking about rolling this out statewide.

Before the office is up and running.

She definitely believes in this.

But my question to you is, how are you working with the fatherhood initiative at the city level?

I know DYCD, we had a major rollout last year where I believe it's like 17 additional sites and really trying to do this.

Have you been working with them?

Is that something that you haven't been connected with?

If not, I would love to connect you and have you heard about the work that they've been doing.

So please connect me.

What we have done is a barbershop series with Senator Bailey and Councilman Riley.

We did one right near River Park Towers, which we overlap, and it was very successful.

We had over 50 young men show up, and it was great dialogue.

And talking about co-parenting and other legal rights that they have as fathers, right?

Why, if they're traveling to Nashville, why you need a notarized letter.

You know, if you have an issue with child support, what can you do?

Also been working with, as a lawyer with legal services, to make sure that young fathers have legal representation when they go to family court.

Because sometimes the...

The judicial interference of families is a conversation I know you've had with ACS and other oversight that you've been pushing for.

And so I think that conversation has been tremendously helpful, and it is at least getting some...

I saw legitimate and tangible results in that short period.

And by expanding it to your point, I think it will only do more for our city.

Yeah, they did an additional 17 across the city.

The two in the Bronx, I believe, is closest to you is Claremont Center.

And then also, I think it's Metropolitan College.

So I make sure I connect you with them as well.

In addition to I make sure that.

I connect you with Bob.

I connect you with Metropolitan College.

I do apologize, but I would love to do a tour with you and maybe with Kevin.

Let's do it.

Yeah.

Kevin had the gang, the dad gang.

I had the brunch of dads and there's other dad programs that have been blooming across the city.

And I would love to connect them and really create some momentum.

Yeah, because I think there are some resources there.

And even, like I said, the conversation I had with the OCFS commissioner, she was really excited about it.

Also, like, how do we connect it?

Because a lot of times, a lot of all these things are already happening.

And then it's like, how do we connect the dots to have the biggest impact for all of it?

Because there is a lot of moments around, like, fatherhood initiatives.

And so for me, it's like, well, why are we all not working together?

So I will make sure that we have a conversation.

I'll bring Bob and everyone from DYCD together so we can start talking about what does it look like holistically.

And I know Councilman Riley is also trying to get an office of fatherhood open at the city as well.

I think that's one of his priorities this year as well.

So I will be due diligent and make sure I connect you because I know where to find you.

Thank you so much.

And I will support Kevin, sorry, Councilman Riley on that.

And the one big thing I would like to just put on the record, one reason why I think this is more important, on the internet, there is this...

I'll be honest, this toxic masculinity sometimes that has been perpetuated on social media, and we're trying to counteract that.

In reality, fathers today are one of the most interactive fathers in generations.

My kids will tell you they love when I cook.

Well, Gail, I know you like my cooking also, but...

It's all right.

I love his cooking.

Thank you.

It's all right.

Althea be hating on my cooking.

But we've changed.

Because I think it's better.

That's what I'm saying.

That's not.

This is on the record, ma'am.

We have people.

I'm sorry.

People are watching.

Behave.

But more importantly, though, we are changing the narrative on what fatherhood looks like.

And it's different examples, right?

And I think that when they see that, you might fit into a different mode of what it is.

But at the end of the day, as long as you're providing love and empathy and caring for your children, I think that is what needs to be magnified.

And I think you're doing it.

I think Gale's always been doing it.

I know the senators talk about family values also.

Sorry, the councilman has talked about family values also.

I'm sorry.

I'm just used to calling him senator.

But this is something I'm very passionate about, and thank you so much for that.

Yeah, there was a father advocate that was here.

I think he left already.

That comes to a lot of my hearings, too.

If he comes back, I'll make sure I connect you because he's come to talk about his struggles as well and trying to bring fathers together as well.

He was here, but he left out.

So I'll definitely connect you to him as well.

So thank you so much for being here today.

Oh, Councilman Brewer has some questions.