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In an effort to empower young minds and foster a sense of self-reliance, three local organizations in South Dallas recently joined forces to form a wraparound resource collaborative. This Saturday, the collaborative hosted its inaugural event, It Takes a Man, an initiative that brought together young men from the community with a team of dedicated mentors, all passionate about sharing their knowledge of basic auto maintenance and mental and emotional wellbeing. From changing a flat tire and checking fluid levels, to doing self check-ins, the day provided valuable learning experience, equipping these young boys with practical skills and fostering a sense of accomplishment.

The event took place at True Lee Missionary Baptist Church and was coordinated by A Steady Hand, both respectively pastored and founded by Pastor Donald Parish, Jr. Volunteering While Black, founded by KD Brown hosted the afternoon mental health session with the young men while Carter’s House, founded by Shawana Carter, supported the operation, coordinating community members and sponsors such as General Dollar who offered young men 16 and older an opportunity to interview on the spot. 

“I started thinking and just started having conversations and realizing how many boys don’t have active fathers or male figures in their [life] to teach them some of the stuff that my dad and granddad taught me.” Pastor Donald Parish Jr. says that Saturday’s event was the first step in bridging the gap between generations. “Having a hooptie is a right of passage in the hood,” Parish says, “we all had to learn and these boys need to learn too.” 

Shawana Carter, founder of Carter’s House says she sees the event as “one way older men can begin to pass knowledge and wisdom that often gets lost when fathers aren’t in the home.” 

According to a report by the Annie E Casey Foundation, 64% of Black children grow up in a single-parent home (a single-mother household or a household with a mother and a non-biological father present). The impact of fatherlessness on children, particularly boys, is a complex and well-researched topic. While the emotional and social consequences are often discussed, there’s another significant aspect – the loss of knowledge transmission. Fathers, traditionally, have played a vital role in passing down specific skills and knowledge from generation to generation. When fathers are absent from the household, this vital link in the knowledge chain can be broken.

Throughout history, fathers have served as mentors, teaching sons practical skills necessary for navigating life. These skills could be anything from fixing a car to woodworking, or from understanding basic finances to navigating the complexities of social interaction. While mothers undoubtedly play a crucial role in shaping a child’s development, fathers often take the lead in these practical areas.

“Having car issues [is] a real thing. We want to give them practical knowledge about real things. Not just cars. But also themselves. Their minds, their emotions, how they socialize.” 

KD Brown, Volunteering While Black founder

The day didn’t just focus on cars. The day also tapped into the mental and emotional health of young men who, as they age, grow closer to risk of mental health disorders and are part of a demographic increasing in suicide risk. “We deify people all the time except those that’s in the mirror,” says KD Brown about the need to build up a sense of self in South Dallas young men. In the afternoon session focusing on mental health, Brown asked the young men to build their own version of a superhero. “Today, my challenge to them is…every intangible that you think about in a superhero, why can’t that be you?” 

Parish, Brown and Carter all believe that the collaborative effort between A Steady Hand, Volunteering While Black, and Carter’s House has the potential to create a ripple effect in South Dallas. By equipping young boys with valuable skills and fostering conversations about mental well-being, the event paves the way for a future generation of self-reliant and emotionally intelligent young men. With continued community support and innovative programming, these boys can not only navigate the complexities of car maintenance but also develop the tools they need to thrive in all aspects of life.

Photos: Marlissa Collier, Dallas Weekly

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