Mitchell Phelps, a Cleveland resident, struggled with feelings of loneliness after the birth of his first child. He felt like he didn’t have a role in his daughter’s life, as his wife was breastfeeding and taking care of her. Phelps sought therapy and was encouraged to make new connections in Cleveland.
The Birth of a New Community
While scrolling through Instagram, Phelps came across the Daddy Stroller Social Club in Dallas, Texas. He was inspired by the group of Black fathers walking together with their kids and decided to create something similar in Cleveland. Although the club didn’t have the capacity to support chapters nationwide at the time, Phelps was determined to bring this experience to his community.
Phelps started a pilot program, meeting with three other men with kids at Pinecrest once a month. The group grew, and after the third month, Phelps reached out to the Daddy Stroller Social Club again. This time, they decided to give him a chance, and the Cleveland chapter was established as the first one outside of Dallas.
A Safe Space for Fathers
Curtis Wright, a 25-year-old father of an 18-month-old son, found the Daddy Social Stroller Club through a social media post. He was struggling to balance graduate school and fatherhood, and the group provided him with a sense of connection and community. Wright encourages other fathers to join the club, saying it has given him a brighter experience in terms of Cleveland and other fathers.
The Cleveland chapter has engaged over 100 fathers to date, with men from all walks of life coming together once a month for a ‘stride’ where they walk, play with their kids, offer parenting advice, and share their mental health struggles and triumphs. The club is currently looking to establish partnerships with local therapists and mental health organizations to incorporate mindfulness moments and provide mental health resources during meetups.
The Daddy Social Stroller Club also organizes family-oriented events, such as cookouts and Easter egg hunts, to involve mothers. To join the club, interested fathers can simply RSVP to a monthly stride and show up. Events are posted on the club’s Instagram page, and participation is open to all, regardless of whether they have kids or not.
Original reporting: Signal Cleveland — read the source article.
