The Dovetail Project Chicago

The Dovetail Project gives young Black and Latino fathers ages 17-24 the skills and support they need to be great fathers for their children and great men in their communities. Founded in and run by Black fathers who come from the city they serve, the Dovetail Project is one of the premier fatherhood initiatives in the country and the first to develop a culturally competent curriculum for young fathers of color.

Ten years ago, the first class of just 9 students graduated from the Third District Police Station. Since then, over 500 young men have graduated from the organization’s signature program teaching life skills, job skills, and felony street law, helping fathers to maintain an active and engaged presence in their children’s lives. Participants earn a stipend for program completion; receive connections to opportunities to complete their GED, obtain a job, and/or learn a trade; and are honored with a graduation ceremony. Case managers provide one-on-one holistic support to fathers during their time in the program, and after graduation, graduates join Dovetail's alumni network of hundreds of young fathers across the city supporting and encouraging each other on their fatherhood journeys.

While Dovetail's in-person programming is temporarily suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the organization has pivoted to community resource distribution through its Fatherhood Relief Fund (text DOVETAIL to 56525), providing essentials such as diapers, wipes, baby formula, and food as well as downloadable resource guides, reaching over 3,000 families so far and counting.

For over a decade, Dovetail has been on the front lines of impacting young fathers in Chicago. The organization is proud to continue fighting to change the narrative around fatherhood, one family at a time.