Father On The Move Massachusetts Fathers & Families Summit
From Being Heard to Changing Systems
2027
Boston, Massachusetts area – exact date, venue, capacity, format, and registration are pending.
Why This Summit Matters
Fathers should not only be invited to describe problems. They should help shape the programs, policies, research, services, funding decisions, and accountability measures that affect their children and families.
This proposed summit will bring father voice together with practical resources, evidence, authority, partnership, and public follow-through.
Experience Behind the Vision
Before developing the Fathers & Families Summit, Anthony Henderson participated as a speaker at the 2025 National Community Leadership Summit. That experience informs a Father On The Move event model centered on father voice, practical learning, cross-sector partnership, access, and public follow-through.
The 2027 Summit will build on that experience while creating its own Massachusetts-centered space for fathers, families, community organizations, funders, and public partners to move from conversation to measurable commitments.
Listen → Act → Account
Listen
Center fathers’ lived experiences, strengths, barriers, questions, and recommendations.
Act
Connect participants to resources, programs, partnerships, research, and specific next steps.
Account
Document commitments, assign follow-up, and report progress after the summit.
Who the Summit Is For
- Fathers and family members
- Community and fatherhood organizations
- Legislators and government agency representatives
- Attorneys, mediators, and legal-information providers
- Researchers, colleges, students, and evaluators
- Housing, employment, financial, health, and wellness providers
- Funders, sponsors, employers, businesses, and media partners
Proposed capacity: 75–125 participants. Final capacity depends on the venue, budget, format, and staffing.
Proposed Learning Tracks
- Engaged fatherhood and father-child relationships
- Parenting and co-parenting
- Family court and child support navigation
- Housing and homeownership
- Employment, financial stability, and economic mobility
- Mental health, physical wellness, and stress
- Father leadership, research, advocacy, and systems change
Better Access to Summit Sessions
- Two workshop rounds where the program and presenter capacity allow
- High-demand sessions repeated so attendees have another opportunity to participate
- Recordings created only with presenter and participant consent
- Replay access provided only when permissions and technology allow
- Every session clearly identified as in-person-only, hybrid, recorded, or not recorded
- Short recaps or take-home resources considered for participants who must miss a session because of work, court, transportation, childcare, or other barriers
Proposed Summit Experience
| Program element | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Welcome and father voice | Establish trust, purpose, agreements, and lived-experience context |
| Opening plenary | Frame the summit theme, evidence, and questions requiring action |
| Workshop Round One | Build practical knowledge and produce a next step |
| Resource and coalition expo | Connect participants to verified services and partnership pathways |
| Lunch and networking | Strengthen relationships across fathers, organizations, and decision-makers |
| Workshop Round Two | Repeat selected sessions and expand participant choice |
| Policy and agency accountability conversation | Ask focused questions and document commitments |
| Commitments and next steps | Identify owners, deadlines, referrals, and follow-up actions |
| Evaluation and closing | Measure usefulness, needs, confidence, connection, and next-step interest |
Resource and Coalition Expo
Participating organizations will be asked to explain what they provide, who qualifies, how referrals work, what information is required, and what follow-up they can realistically commit to after the summit.
- Family court and child support information
- Housing and homeownership
- Employment and economic mobility
- Health, mental health, and wellness
- Parenting, co-parenting, and father-child programs
- Education, research, advocacy, and leadership
- Transportation, childcare, food, and emergency support
Accessibility Commitments Under Development
The following items are proposed and depend on confirmed funding, venue capacity, staffing, and technology. They are not yet promised.
- Accessible venue and seating
- Transportation and parking information
- Childcare or father-child activities
- Food and dietary information
- Language interpretation and translated materials
- Hybrid or virtual participation
- Technology support and replay access
- Clear privacy, photography, recording, and quotation choices
Sponsorship and In-Kind Support
Proposed sponsorship levels from the current summit planning materials are listed below. Benefits and tax treatment will be finalized before sponsorships are accepted.
| Proposed level | Potential use |
|---|---|
| $500 | Participant materials, printing, refreshments, or accessibility support |
| $1,000 | Workshop, resource, transportation, or family participation support |
| $5,000 | Program track, recording, childcare, interpretation, or resource expo support |
| $10,000 | Major summit operations, access, and participant support |
| $20,000+ | Lead or multi-year summit and systems-change partnership |
In-kind support may include venue, food, transportation, audiovisual equipment, childcare or father-child activities, printing, media, photography, interpretation, technology, and video production.
Impact and Public Accountability
Attendance alone will not be presented as long-term impact. The summit will track immediate participation and follow-through separately.
At the Summit
- Registration and attendance
- Fathers and organizations represented
- Resources and referrals provided
- Participant usefulness, learning, confidence, and connection
- Commitments and collaborations identified
After the Summit
- 30-day follow-up status
- 60-day progress and barriers
- 90-day public accountability update
- Referral completion when participants permit follow-up
- Continuing program, coalition, mentoring, advocacy, and leadership participation
Join the Summit Interest List
Submitting this form expresses interest. It does not confirm a ticket, speaking role, sponsorship, exhibit space, volunteer assignment, planning role, or research participation. Confirmed information will be sent when available.
Current Planning Status
- Confirmed: Father On The Move intends to develop its own Massachusetts-centered summit in 2027.
- Proposed: Theme, audience, learning tracks, repeated workshop rounds, resource expo, accountability conversation, sponsorship levels, and follow-up framework.
- Pending: Exact date, venue, capacity, speakers, partners, budget, registration platform, childcare, food, transportation, interpretation, hybrid access, and recording plan.
Summit Track: Legacy and Wealth Building
The 2027 Summit will make room for practical conversations on wills, trusts, life insurance, homeownership, financial capability, entrepreneurship, and passing knowledge and assets forward.
Summit Track: Self-Care and Mental Wellness
The 2027 Summit will address self-awareness, stress, burnout, emotional capacity, healthy boundaries, rest, vacations, and sustainable ways for fathers to remain present.
Summit Track: Evidence, Commitments, and Accountability
The 2027 Summit will connect father voice to documented systems questions, responsible institutions, specific commitments, target dates, and public follow-up through a Listen, Act, Account cycle.
Building Our Supporter Community
The Fathers & Families Summit will be strengthened by funders, sponsors, coalition members, service providers, community organizations, and residents who believe fathers should have meaningful opportunities to connect, lead, heal, and help improve the systems affecting their families.
We are grateful to the partners helping lay the groundwork for this work. We welcome new supporters who can help expand access to practical resources, workshops, childcare, transportation, meals, interpretation, technology, father-child activities, professional learning, and post-summit follow-up.
Support for this Summit is more than an investment in one event. It helps build a year-round pathway from father voice to community connection, informed leadership, coordinated action, and measurable public accountability.
PROPOSED SUMMIT CELEBRATION
Legacy and Impact Awards Gala
The Summit may conclude with an optional awards ceremony and community celebration honoring fathers, parent leaders, community champions, organizations, and partners whose work demonstrates connection, stability, wellness, advocacy, legacy, and accountable systems change.
More Than a Dinner
The event would create space for recognition, honoree stories, fellowship, relationship-building, sponsor stewardship, and support for year-round father-centered work.
Flexible Format
It may be offered as a Summit closing event, a separately ticketed evening, or a future standalone signature event depending on the final schedule, venue, budget, and community input.
Awards will use published criteria, verified accomplishments, honoree consent, conflict-of-interest safeguards, and an independent review process. Sponsors cannot purchase or guarantee recognition.