Hampton spotlights Healthy Families Fatherhood program in ceremonial session

Hampton city officials used a ceremonial council session to spotlight the Healthy Families Fatherhood program, which organizers say helps fathers build parenting skills and stronger family relationships.

Brian Marchese, the city’s marketing and outreach coordinator, opened the presentation and described the program as “a community movement that helps connect dads who helps dads connect, reflect, and grow alongside their children.” He said the program’s cornerstone, the 24/7 Nurturing Dad series, is a 12-week curriculum that addresses topics including men’s health, positive discipline, co‑parenting and mindfulness.

Marchese told the council the program also offers a winter “level up your dad game” workshop that focuses on child development and financial literacy. He said the initiative has grown since 2023 to “nearly 600 fathers and family members,” and credited a one‑time fatherhood initiative grant from the Virginia Department of Social Services for helping expand offerings.

“Tonight’s spotlight shines on a group of men who are helping to change lives, one father and one family and one conversation at a time,” Marchese said. He listed five facilitators by name — Derek Nevills, Samuel Akkaban (name appears with variant spellings in the transcript), Tyrone George, Arthur Edwards and Darius Swift — and noted many of the facilitators hold full‑time jobs at local institutions including Christopher Newport University, Hampton University and the Commonwealth’s attorney victim‑witness unit.

Marchese invited Antoinette Edwards, who he identified as coordinating the facilitators, and several program participants to the dais for a group photograph. He also acknowledged that several facilitators were unable to attend the session because they were at work.

Speakers at the meeting emphasized that the program’s value is in connection rather than metrics. Marchese said many fathers attend the program at the same time council meets on Wednesday evenings, and some came to the meeting to show support for facilitators. The mayor thanked the volunteers and said the session helped draw attention to a program that may be “flying under the radar.”

There were no motions, votes or formal council actions associated with the spotlight. The presentation was ceremonial and concluded with a group photo and the mayor’s closing remarks.