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Fathers support each other through Project Fatherhood

By Brandon Choe

Jan. 31, 2014 8:59 a.m.

Project Fatherhood is based in the Jordan Downs Community Center in Watts, CA.

(Brandon Choe/Daily Bruin)

The community center is located in the heart of the Jordan Downs Housing Projects in Watts, CA.

(Brandon Choe/Daily Bruin)

Elder Michael "Big Mike" Cummings starts each meeting with "check-ins", a public forum to divulge personal news and update each other on their lives.

(Brandon Choe/Daily Bruin)

Chubb, a father of Project Fatherhood, lowers his head in prayer.

(Brandon Choe/Daily Bruin)

Project Fatherhood attendees listen to another member's "check-in".

(Brandon Choe/Daily Bruin)

Andre Christian, a facilitator of Project Fatherhood, reads literature from prison calling for the stop to the divisive conditions in the hood.

(Brandon Choe/Daily Bruin)

Lee, second from the right, laughs with congregation during his "check-in".

(Brandon Choe/Daily Bruin)

“I’m not the expert... The people I work with are the experts. Only they know what their own community needs.” - Dr. Jorja Leap, co-facilitator of Project Fatherhood

(Brandon Choe/Daily Bruin)

"What we have done as co-facilitators is prepare the plate for the fathers. We have put everything on the plate as you prepare to eat your dinner... Now its just time for them to eat off that plate and survive as being fathers." - Elder Michael "Big Mike" Cummings, co-facilitator of Project Fatherhood

(Brandon Choe/Daily Bruin)

"How are you going to teach me about healthy relationships when you have no idea where I’m coming from...There are people in the community that don’t want to deal with the police department or the mayor’s office. This is their program and they’re learning something." - Andre "Lowdown" Christian, co-facilitator of Project Fatherhood

(Brandon Choe/Daily Bruin)

Timothy McDaniel, Jr., coach at David Starr Jordan High School and father of Project Fatherhood

(Brandon Choe/Daily Bruin)

Alan Curtis, father of Project Fatherhood

(Brandon Choe/Daily Bruin)

"Music is the center of the soul. No matter what your condition is, no matter what your outcome is, no matter what you’re going through, music will help you get through that." - Donald Twin James

(Brandon Choe/Daily Bruin)

Julius Sanders, father of Project Fatherhood

(Brandon Choe/Daily Bruin)

"I stayed because I have my kids; I have a newborn. I’ve really been interested in developing and moving forward as their father." - Jorge Villegas with his family.

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Brandon Choe
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