Partnership Between Black Dads Count and Vote Like a Dad: Amplifying the Power of Fathers in Civic Engagement
The partnership between Black Dads Count and Vote Like a Dad creates a powerful synergy that amplifies the role of fathers—especially Black fathers—in shaping the future of their families and communities through civic engagement. Both campaigns share a core belief that fatherhood is not just about providing and nurturing within the household, but also about engaging in civic activities that protect and uplift children and families at a broader societal level.
Shared Mission
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At the heart of this partnership is the shared mission to encourage fathers to take an active role in advocating for policies that strengthen families and communities. By uniting the goals of Black Dads Count—which focuses on the civic empowerment of Black fathers—and Vote Like a Dad—which emphasizes family-focused voting and policy advocacy—this collaboration strengthens efforts to mobilize fathers as key players in civic life.
Why This Partnership Matters:
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The partnership between Black Dads Count and Vote Like a Dad brings together two critical aspects of fatherhood—responsible caregiving and civic participation. By uniting these campaigns, the partnership underscores that fathers have the power to shape not only the lives of their children but also the future of their communities. This collaboration provides Black fathers with the tools, knowledge, and encouragement to step into civic roles, advocate for justice, and ensure a better future for the next generation.
Ultimately, this partnership is about transforming the role of fathers from caregivers into advocates and leaders, reinforcing the idea that civic engagement is an essential extension of responsible fatherhood. Through this collaboration, fathers will be empowered to vote, lead, and influence policies that benefit their children, families, and society as a whole.
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Key Objectives
Key Objectives of the Partnership:
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Mobilize Fathers to Vote for Family-Friendly Policies:
Through Vote Like a Dad, fathers are encouraged to support policies that promote economic stability, education reform, paid family leave, and healthcare access. Black Dads Count enhances this by connecting the importance of voting to issues of racial equity and justice that uniquely affect Black families.
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Expand Beyond the Voting:
While voting is a key focus, this partnership recognizes that civic engagement takes many forms. Fathers are encouraged to not only vote but also get involved in their communities through mentoring, volunteering in schools, advocating for justice, and holding political office.
02
Close the Civic Engagement Gap:
Research shows that Black men, in particular, are underrepresented in civic participation, including voting. This partnership actively seeks to close that gap by leveraging the strengths of both campaigns to encourage Black fathers to vote and participate in community leadership roles.
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Strengthen the Narrative:
Together, Black Dads Count and Vote Like a Dad aim to reshape how fatherhood is perceived by highlighting the powerful role fathers play in civic leadership. By showcasing fathers who are actively involved in voting, advocacy, and leadership, the partnership challenges negative stereotypes and provides inspiring role models for other fathers
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Underrepresentation in Voter Turnout: In 2016, only 54% of eligible Black men were registered to vote, compared to 61% of non-Hispanic white men, highlighting the need for increased voter participation among Black men to address this gap in representation (Pew Research Center, 2018).
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Impact on Policy Decisions: Black men’s civic participation directly influences policies on economic inequality, criminal justice reform, healthcare access, and more. Research shows that voting increases community influence on key legislative outcomes (Center for American Progress, 2021).
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Criminal Justice Reform: Voting can influence policies that impact Black communities disproportionately, such as police reform and criminal justice. Black men make up 34% of the U.S. prison population despite being only 6% of the overall population (NAACP, 2020).
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Economic Inequality: In 2020, the median income for Black men was significantly lower than that of white men. Voting can support policies addressing income inequality and job opportunities (U.S. Census Bureau, 2021).
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Education Reform: Black men have a vested interest in supporting policies that increase funding for public schools and equitable education opportunities. Data shows that only 36% of Black men complete a post-secondary degree, compared to 44% of white men (National Center for Education Statistics, 2020).
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Equimundo is an applied research organization dedicated to achieving gender equality and social justice by transforming intergenerational patterns of harm and promoting care, empathy, and accountability among boys and men throughout their lives. Their emphasis on research underscores their belief in the power of informed and evidence-based approaches to drive positive societal change.
