Jeff Usher is Be There Dad. He became known as “Coach Jeff” during his 15 years of coaching soccer and basketball in a faith-based recreational league, teaching Sunday school and leading other child focused activities. Jeff is the founder of Be There Dad and the author of two books, Be There Dad and Take Them by the Hand.
While he works as a lawyer to make a living; supporting children by leading and guiding their dads has become his passion in life. He has been happily married for over 30 years and has two grown children.
In a reflective moment, I remembered that this is how baseball is supposed to be. I could hear the words of James Earl Jones’ description of the Field of Dreams as if he was speaking to me about Wrigley, “America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers… But baseball has marked the time.
There has been an ongoing debate over whether to continue the prekindergarten programs in public schools. When I read about this debate, I think about my grass.
The Highland Men have seen a need and met it head on. When asked to read to kindergarten and 1st graders at Druid Hills this week, three of them responded immediately.
I am told this is a real sign posted at a local soccer field.
On a sunny Saturday in May, a group gathered at a local elementary school in need of a “facelift”. I counted 22 Be There Dads from 4 other schools, 2 Principals, 3 teachers and 10 children. All had gathered to help make this school “a better place” for the children who attended it.
I am thrilled to tell you about an important event in the life of Be There Dad®. On April 17 at the North Carolina PTA annual convention, we received the Oak Leaf Award in recognition of the Male Engagement Program in Mecklenburg County.
The gleaming Lucite award bore the words, “North Carolina PTA Oak Leaf Award, Be There Dad Male Engagement Program”. I placed it on a shelf in my office among other awards I had collected, mostly during my years coaching recreational soccer, which I like to think provide some measure of my life. Among them is…
Next Tuesday, I will be conducting one of our regularly scheduled Be There Dad workshops at The Rankin Institute. This workshop is open to the public and free of charge. The only obligation is that your register in advance. You can read more about the workshop and register on the link below.
That Saturday was the first truly bright and warm day so far that spring. Like many others, I left early to make my weekly visit to the home improvement store and then return to work in my yard.
The inquiries started with phrases like, “Have you ever… “How would you…” and usually ended with, “What do you think I should do?”