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Hi there, “I want to take this moment to say that Black fathers matter.”   Ten years ago, Chicagoan Sheldon Smith had a daughter, Jada. He wanted to find resources to help guide his journey as a father, and through that process, founded the Dovetail Project to help other young African American fathers looking for similar support.  This Father’s Day, we want to share Sheldon’s message and lift up the meaningful work he does. Since the Dovetail Project’s founding, over 500 young men have graduated from its 12-week program in parenting skills, life skills, and felony street and family law.   Today, the Dovetail Project is still serving young fathers across the city—and making sure their families can weather the storm of the COVID 19 crisis. Through their Fatherhood Relief Fund, fathers can request support and personal supplies like diapers and baby formula.  “The babies are what keep me going,” Sheldon said. “The knowledge that babies are growing up with their fathers because of our work means everything to me.” And Sheldon hopes, with the global reaction in the wake of George Floyd’s killing, there’s an opportunity to talk about systemic injustices like police violence and mass incarceration that separate Black fathers from their families—and to affirm the importance of fatherhood. “To all the young Black and Brown dads out there, you matter,” he said. “Your babies need you, and we know how much you love them. We're here for you so you can be here for them.”   This Father’s Day, take a second to learn  about Sheldon and the work of the Dovetail Project. Happy Father’s Day, —The Obama Foundation