The University of Wisconsin Division of Extension will host the second annual Fathers in Focus Summit on Saturday, Oct. 18, at Madison College’s Truax campus. The free, day-long event is designed to create space for fathers from across the state to connect, learn, and share experiences. Registration is required by Sept. 15.
Joe Maldonado, youth and family state specialist at UW Extension and one of the event organizers, said the summit grew out of a needs assessment that identified a gap in support for fathers. “I actually attended just in a personal capacity [last year], and I really had a spiritual experience being around other dads, you know, and be able to kind of talk about what it means to be a father, all the ups and downs,” he said.
This year’s program will feature 17 presenters leading 18 workshops across six tracks, including co-parenting, custody, justice-involved fathers, mental health, parenting skills, and child support and finances. The keynote speaker will be Dr. R. Kweku Smith, CEO of BLAQUESMITH Psychological Consultative Services in Milwaukee. Other presenters include former NFL player Sylvester Williams, community leader Anthony Cooper, and several UW–Madison faculty members.
For Maldonado, the summit’s value lies in its ability to highlight fatherhood in a meaningful way.
“I’ve never been to a conference where that part of my identity is highlighted,” he said. “It was really good to be in a space with fathers that may be going through something similar and may have been through it in the past.”
The event will also include social spaces such as a DJ and a “man cave” for casual connection. More information and registration are available at parenting.extension.wisc.edu/fathers-in-focus.
