Manhood Further Developed for Young Fathers By Dovetail Project

(in white shirt) Sheldon Smith, founder and executive director of the nonprofit The Dovetail Project, enjoys a moment with fathers enrolled in the organization’s free, 13-week fatherhood class. Photo credit: Courtesy of The Dovetail Project
(in white shirt) Sheldon Smith, founder and executive director of the nonprofit The Dovetail Project, enjoys a moment with fathers enrolled in the organization’s free, 13-week fatherhood class. Photo credit: Courtesy of The Dovetail Project

Manhood Further Developed for Young Fathers By Dovetail Project

BY WENDELL HUTSON

Contributing Writer

As a husband and father. Sheldon Smith said he has made it his mission in life to help young fathers become better men by providing them with parenting, financial literacy, educational, and life skills through his nonprofit organization.

In 2009, Smith said he founded The Dovetail Project as a way to continue the community organizing he had already been doing for years, and to help fathers become a positive example for their families and especially for their children. The name “dovetail” means to bring two things together, according to Smith, who said that is where the organization’s name came from.

“My father had me when he was 18-years-old and both he and my mom struggled to provide for me and that has not changed today for young fathers,” he said. “And while our [free] 13-week fatherhood program is open to all fathers between 17 and 24-years-old, our focus is helping black fathers.”

But the deadline to apply for the program is March 6 and enrollment can be done online at thedovetailproject.org or by calling the office, 7300 S. Cottage Grove Ave., at 773-952-4255. The three-month program runs from March 23 and ends June 11 with a graduation ceremony afterwards. The next class won’t begin until Sept. 21 and ends Dec.10.

“We have a 86 percent completion rate for the program and graduates receive a $450 stipend at the end,” said Smith, the organization’s executive director. “For many of the young men in the program, they make less than $1,500 a year, so $450 is very significant to them. About 95 percent of the men in our program grew up without their fathers.”

The age range for program participants was derived from when Smith’s mother struggled to raise him and his four siblings.

“My parents had me when they were 17 and 18 and had a difficult time taking care of their children during the age range 17 to 24-years-old,” explained Smith, 31. “Our resources, unfortunately, do not allow us to go above or below this age range.”

He added that his father was in and out of his life until age 28, when Smith got married and reconnected with his father.

“He’s more of a father to me now than when I was little growing up on the South Side in Woodlawn,” recalled Smith. “We talk all the time now and have a good relationship.”

As for the program Smith teaches, he said among the things taught are conflict resolution; job readiness; educational assistance; establishing paternity; the ins and outs of child support; and a ‘street law’ component that teaches fathers ways to avoid conflicts with the police.

“Too many young, black men are being shot by the police because of conflicts and not because they did anything wrong,” contends Smith. “We tell fathers to do what you are asked by the police even if you disagree. There’s a time and place to debate the incident, but on the street is not the place.”

According to Smith, grants account for 40 percent of the organization’s funding and 60 percent comes from “everyday people mainly white women who want to see our work continue for young fathers.”

Historically, Smith said the welfare system has encouraged fathers, unable to provide for their families, to leave home so his family could then receive public assistance, such as food stamps, medical, educational, childcare, and housing assistance.

“I do not make excuses for ‘deadbeat’ dads because if you are going make these babies, then you should provide for them,” added Smith. “But we know the government has not been in the business of keeping families together, but dividing them.”

And Smith disagreed with society’s notion that a woman cannot teach a boy how to be a man, and that if a boy is raised by a woman and grows up around mainly females, that he may end up becoming gay as an adult.

“I was raised by a woman and I am not gay and I know a man who was adopted by two gay men and he is a successful attorney today, so I do not agree with either of these stereotypes,” said Smith.

And having a criminal background does not disqualify fathers from the program.

“We don’t do criminal background checks on applicants because it wouldn’t prevent a father from enrolling,” said Smith, who was convicted of armed robbery. “Our goal is to help fathers become better men and not put up barriers to hinder them from getting the help that they need.”

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