Fathers Incorporatedโ€™s (FI) Gentle Warrior Academy (GWA) is set to host its most monumental graduation to date. On April 12, 2025, over 100 fathers โ€” the largest cohort in GWA history โ€” will graduate from FIโ€™s transformative fatherhood programs during the FIRE 100 Graduation at the renowned Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, GA.

The event will feature keynote speaker Dorsey Levens, a Super Bowl champion, Green Bay Packers Hall of Famer, Georgia Tech alumnus, and board member of Fathers Incorporated. Levens, a dedicated advocate for fathers and families, will deliver a powerful message of purpose, perseverance, and healing.

โ€œFatherhood is more than a title โ€” itโ€™s a calling,โ€ said Dorsey Levens. โ€œThese men have made the choice to break cycles, build legacies, and show up for their children and communities. Iโ€™m proud to stand with them โ€” not just as a keynote speaker, but as a fellow believer in the transformative power of fatherhood.โ€

The FIRE 100 Graduation will honor graduates from several distinct GWA fatherhood programs, including:

  • FIRE NextLevel Fatherhood
  • The Connect Program (with the Annie E. Casey Foundation)
  • Gateway Program for Unhoused Fathers
  • Partnership with the Georgia Department of Child Support Services
  • Reentry Cohort from the Fulton County Jail

With this graduation, FI surpasses its commitment to serve 900 fathers under a grant from the federal Office of Family Assistance (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services). These dads receive several vital support services from FI:

  • Parenting education
  • Legitimation case support and training
  • Employment services
  • Child support assistance
  • Housing referrals
  • Life coaching and case management
  • Research participation and community service engagement

Fathers Matter ATL and the Annie E. Casey Foundation, organizations committed to strengthening families and building support systems for fathers, proudly support the FIRE 100 Graduation.

โ€œWe are not just celebrating a graduation โ€” we are recognizing resilience, redemption, and the redefinition of what it means to be a father,โ€ said Kenneth Braswell, CEO of Fathers Incorporated. โ€œThis moment reflects the collective power of belief, investment, and brotherhood.โ€

Looking Ahead: Whatโ€™s Next for GWA and Fathers Incorporated

This milestone is only the beginning. Fathers Incorporated is also poised to 

  • Strengthen data collection and infrastructure
  • Expand support services to include families and co-parents
  • Enhance relationship and co-parenting education
  • Increase research efforts to inform policy and legislation
  • Address the impact of Georgiaโ€™s Legitimation Law on fathers and their children

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Posted by Fathers Incorporated

Fathers Incorporated (FI) is a national, non-profit organization working to build stronger families and communities through the promotion of Responsible Fatherhood. Established in 2004, FI has a unique seat at the national table, working with leaders in the White House, Congress, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Family Law, and the Responsible Fatherhood Movement. FI works collaboratively with organizations around the country to identify and advocate for social and legislative changes that lead to healthy father involvement with children, regardless of the fatherโ€™s marital or economic status, or geographic location. From employment and incarceration issues, to child support and domestic violence, FI addresses long-standing problems to achieve long-term results for children, their families, the communities, and nation in which they live.

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