Community Partner Spotlight: Fathers, Families, & Healthy Communities
Onward Neighborhood House
Clinton Boyd, Jr., PhD
Executive Director, Fathers, Families, & Healthy Communities (FFHC)
About this partner
Mission
At Fathers, Families, & Healthy Communities (FFHC), our mission is to empower Black fathers through transformative services that uplift their lives, strengthen families, and restore hope. We envision a world where Black fathers are deeply loved by their children, fully supported by their communities, and able to thrive in a society rooted in justice, equity, and opportunity for all.
Executive Director
Dr. Clinton Boyd, Jr. is a nationally recognized thought leader and advocate for Black fathers, racial equity, and community transformation. As Executive Director of Fathers, Families, & Healthy Communities (FFHC), he leads one of Chicago’s most innovative organizations focused on strengthening Black families and dismantling barriers that exclude Black men from economic, civic, and familial life. An Aspen Institute Ascend Fellow and DePaul University’s Chicago Changemaker of the Year, Dr. Boyd earned his Ph.D. in Sociology from Georgia State University and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Duke University.
Services Offered
Fathers, Families, & Healthy Communities (FFHC) offers culturally responsive services that empower Black fathers and strengthen families. Our signature program, Fathers United, provides peer support, parenting education, and leadership development. We also offer workforce training, mental health support, and legal navigation services. FFHC leads bold policy advocacy efforts to dismantle systemic barriers facing Black men and promotes narrative change through public education campaigns. All services are rooted in healing, equity, and a commitment to justice for Black fathers, families, and communities.
Current Projects
One of our key projects is Breaking the Chains, a new report that shines a light on the many barriers Black men in Chicago face when trying to find work, build wealth, and care for their families. Created with our partners at Equity and Transformation (EAT), the report lifts up the real stories of Black men and shares powerful ideas to create change—like guaranteed income, better support after incarceration, and fair access to jobs. This work shows FFHC’s deep commitment to changing the story about Black fathers.
Organizational Impact to the Community
Fathers, Families, & Healthy Communities (FFHC) is changing the narrative around Black fatherhood while supporting hundreds of fathers each year through parenting groups, mental health support, and workforce training. Our signature programs strengthen families, and our policy advocacy pushes for systemic change. By uplifting Black fathers, we help build stronger, more connected communities across Chicago.
Funding Sources
WFFHC is funded through a mix of private foundations, individual donors, and corporate partnerships. Key supporters include the Annie E. Casey Foundation, Irving Harris Foundation, McCormick Foundation, and UChicago Medicine. These diverse funding streams help sustain our programs and advance our mission.
About this Spotlight
