By Kwodwo Terron Edwards Sr., Founder of Fathers Making Progress
Legacy Built One Day at a Time
What’s up, everyone? Let’s talk about legacy—not the kind that gets carved into marble or written in textbooks, but the kind you build with your bare hands and your heart day by day. It’s the legacy born from love, grit, and relentless determination. The kind that changes lives, strengthens families, and reshapes communities from the inside out. That’s the story of Fathers Making Progress (FMP), the organization I started twenty years ago, built on faith, struggle, and hope.
The Man Behind the Movement
But before I dive into the work, I’d love to share a little about the man behind it.
I’m a father of five. My sons: Ronny, twenty-eight, carving his own path; Pharaoh, who will forever be twenty-two after we lost him four years ago; and Terron Jr., my eleven-year-old scholar already outsmarting me in ways I never imagined. Then there’s Golden, my bonus daughter through marriage, and Asiya, my cousin who became my daughter through life’s twists and turns. My father died when I was a kid. I watched my mother battle poverty and depression, doing everything she could to keep us afloat. I came up in some of the toughest neighborhoods in the Midwest during the ’90s and early 2000s. Those streets and those seasons were teachers—harsh ones. They broke me open and built me back stronger. They taught me how to survive, how to serve, and how to love without conditions. They shaped the man I became and the mission I carry.
From Vision to Movement
Fathers Making Progress was born from that same mixture of community love, determination, and hard lessons. What began as a small fatherhood program at the New Hope Project grew into a movement that’s changed countless lives. This year marks twenty years of that journey—two decades of doing the work, standing on the corners of hope and heartbreak, and choosing to keep going.
We put together a short film to honor that legacy—our 20 Years of FMP video. Celebrate with us, and if you can, support the movement. We even have limited-edition FMP gear—grab yours, wear it with pride, and let people know you stand for progress.
Now let’s talk about what’s next - Returning to the Stage: Two Decades of Impact.
I’m getting ready for my sixth time presenting at the Fathers and Families Coalition of America Conference. Hard to believe that when we gather in 2026, it’ll be twenty years since I first stood behind that podium in 2006 and delivered “My Daddy, My Homie, My Heeero!” That workshop was about dads teaching their kids through play—learning to love out loud—and it became the blueprint for everything FMP would become.
Why This Workshop Is Personal
This year I’m bringing something new—"Better Together: Transforming Co-Parenting in Communities.” It’s an interactive workshop focused on reshaping how we see and practice co-parenting. We’ll delve into FMP’s co-parenting model, which centers on communication, shared responsibility, and mutual respect. But that’s not all—we’re launching a media campaign to demystify co-parenting solutions, featuring clips from our flagship docufilm Better Together. The film’s director, Eric Kleppe-Montenegro, will join me as we explore real-world stories of families who turned conflict into cooperation. We’ll show what happens when parents—mothers, fathers, co-parents—choose partnership over pride.
And let me keep it real with you: this workshop isn’t just another conference session. It’s personal. The souls of our children are at stake. I know because I lived the loss no parent should bear. My son Pharaoh, my forever twenty-two-year-old, is no longer here. His story—our story—is a cautionary tale about what happens when communication breaks down, when love gets tangled in pain, when the cracks in a family widen until they swallow us whole. That’s why this work matters.
Co-parenting isn’t just about logistics or custody schedules. It’s about emotional, mental, and spiritual safety. When co-parents work together, they weave a net strong enough to catch their children when life gets heavy. When they don’t, that net frays—and sometimes, it breaks. I don’t share that truth for sympathy; I share it for purpose. If we can learn to cooperate through love instead of conflict, we can save lives—literally.
Taking Back the Narrative Through Media
One of the most powerful weapons we have in this fight is media. Stories shape how we see ourselves, how we see each other, how we see the possible. That’s why our Better Together docufilm means so much to me—it’s not just a movie, it’s a movement. Through it, we’re reclaiming the narrative around co-parenting and fatherhood. We’re showing that even in the hardest circumstances, families can heal. We’re spotlighting fathers who stay present, mothers who find common ground, and communities that rise because love refuses to quit.
Media is our megaphone. It educates, it inspires, it holds us accountable. By telling our stories, we’re not just talking about co-parenting—we’re showing it, raw and real, in motion. Every frame of that film is a mirror for someone who needs to know reconciliation is still possible.
The Call to Gather: Why You Need to Be There
That’s why I’m asking you to be in the room at the 27th International Families and Fathers Conference. This isn’t just another event—it’s a convergence of passion, expertise, and purpose. It’s where ideas become blueprints and connections become community. It’s where you meet the people who remind you that your work matters. If you care about strengthening families, healing trauma, and creating generational change, this is where you need to be.
My workshop will give you practical tools, proven strategies, and fresh inspiration. Whether you’re a parent, an educator, or a family advocate, you’ll leave equipped to make a difference in your own neighborhood.
Join the Movement
The 27th International Families and Fathers Conference takes place April 13–16, 2026, at the Hilton Los Angeles Airport Hotel. Be part of something bigger than any one of us. Reimagine what co-parenting can be. Celebrate twenty years of Fathers Making Progress. Honor the legacies we’re building and the futures we’re shaping. Because at the end of the day, it's not just about being a father—it’s about making progress. Please visit the FFCA Website to learn more about this conference.
See you in L.A.
Before you head out, take a moment to watch the 20 Years of FMP video above. We’re also excited to offer you some limited-edition free swag—be sure to grab yours here! Share the movement and let’s keep making great progress together.
Kwodwo Terron Edwards Sr.
Founder / Executive President, Fathers Making Progress
1531 W. Vliet St. Milwaukee, WI 53205 | 414-899-5346
“Real dads doing our best… to be our best.”