Haki Nkrumah giving young fathers a chance

Haki T. Nkrumah could share the heartbreaking stories for hours — examples of teenage boys who got girls pregnant and then were on their own to figure out how to pay child support or even stay in their child's life.

He has dedicated his life to mentoring and improving the parenting skills of these young men so they can be positive male role models in their children’s lives.

When Orange County Commissioner Betsy VanderLey was tasked with recognizing someone locally for doing work that matters, she immediately thought of Nkrumah for the District 1 Citizen of the Year Award.

He is the CEO of Young Fathers of Central Florida, a nonprofit he started in 2006.

“Haki, for 10 years now, has been investing in young fathers,” she said. “There are numerous programs for teen mothers but none that I was aware of for teen fathers. … We want to hold them to the high standards of being good parents, yet they have no more tools than the young women.

“His influence in the community by doing this is profound and generational,” VanderLey said. “The statistics on what happens with children who don’t have an involved father are frightening. So it was a no-brainer to have him as my first District 1 Citizen of the year.”

HELPING YOUNG FATHERS

The 11-year-old organization helps boys ages 14 to 24. Nkrumah’s goal is to get a statewide fatherhood initiative established.

He tells of one boy whose pregnant girlfriend moved back to Canada. She refused child support because she would lose all the free services her country provided. The teen father couldn't even claim the child, Nkrumah said.

In other cases, he said, these young fathers are staying away from their babies so the mother can receive services.

Too often, these young boys don't have a job that can adequately support a baby, either, Nkrumah said.

In meeting with teens for the last decade, he said he has discovered that this epidemic covers all ethnicities and income levels. He has come across poor white and black teens, undocumented Hispanic fathers and sons of millionaires.

According to Nkrumah, more than $100 million in services was allotted in 2016 to teen mothers; young fathers received nothing. What’s more, he said, many agencies don’t even have a space on their intake applications for the father’s name.

 “We’re the only nonprofit 501c3 in the state of Florida that services teens and young fathers,” Nkrumah said. “So we get calls from everywhere.”

He said 90% of fatherhood programs in the country don't begin engaging fathers until an average of 26 years of age.

At YFCF, the goal is to improve the parenting skills of young fathers and improve their well-being, prevent them from becoming parents until they’re ready and increase educational and vocational opportunities for them.

Eight programs are available: Teen Fatherhood Academy, Parent Training & Development, Dad-to-Dad Mentoring, Fathers Support Group, Gents to Gentlemen, Young Fatherhood Institute, Young Father’s Initiative in County Jails and City Wide Young Father’s Initiative.

Emerson McClain was a college student when he met Nkrumah in 2008. Now 30 and living in Orlando, McClain said Nkrumah was a source for guidance for him and the mother of his children.

“His program allowed me to witness the transparency of other fathers and the hardships they deal with being a young father,” McClain said. “I was able to also interact with thriving father role models. … It helped a lot because my father did not play a strong role in my adulthood.”

“Some of us have to sacrifice and say, ‘These kids are our future,’” said Nkrumah, who has three children and lives in Winter Garden with his wife, Leslie. “But the main reason I continue to work with them and dedicate my life to them is because I don't want them to keep getting girls pregnant. … These kids are ruining their entire future.”

COMMUNITY SUPPORT

Persistence has paid off for Nkrumah. He approached the Walt Disney Company about grant money and was told his program needed to be established and have a proven track record. He was told to come back in four years, so he did, and he received money for his program several years in a row, nearly $30,000 annually.

The University of Central Florida donated another $30,000 one year, and the city of Orlando has given $10,000 for about eight years.

Nkrumah said he is considered the national authority in the country; he has written books and given lectures all over United States. His dedication is so strong that he didn’t take a paycheck for the first four years of operation.

Instead, he learned to write grants, applying to 51 and receiving funding from 49.

“One place gave us $250,” he said. “Every little bit helps.”

To make a donation, go online youngfathersofcentralflorida.com or send a check to the YFCF office, 511 W. South St., Orlando 32805.

Volunteers also are needed in four branches: mentoring, organization, outreach and skills training. To inquire about volunteering, call (407) 423-9400.

“I'm never giving up; I'm going to die doing this,” Nkrumah said. “And everyone who knows me knows this. Because there are all these little children who need a chance to survive. If we don't help the young parents, these kids aren't going to survive. That's a shame when you don't have a chance to live from newborn to 18 months.”

Contact Amy Quesinberry at [email protected].