Thanks to the necessity of dual-earner families and evolving societal norms, expectations for fatherhood have shifted over the last several years. Men who were once expected to mete out the discipline as stern and nearly-silent providers are now more hands-on partners as far as the day-to-day raising and nurturing of their daughters and sons. While single parenting is more accepted than in generations before, research demonstrates that a lack of a stable father or father figure in a child’s life creates emotional and security issues, academic and behavioral problems and are more likely to smoke, abuse alcohol and engage in sexual intercourse as teens.

Mothers remain crucial, of course, but according to husband, father and local business owner, Chris Adams, dads who put the work in deserve respect as well. The founder and president of the Dallas-based street-sweeping company, Brooklyn Sweeps Inc., is one of six men being honored for their contributions to their families and communities at Sunday’s Father’s Day Brunch.

Presented by the Ultimate Daddy Daughter Experience, Sunday’s Father’s Day Brunch at the House of Blues will honor, in addition to Adams, Russell Wilson, a federal criminal defense attorney who helped to exonerate over a dozen wrongly-imprisoned men; Todrick Johnson, publisher of Epitome Magazine; David Wilson, pastor of Greater Cornerstone Church; Vernelle Trigg Jr., CEO and president of Cynergy Collaborative Consultations and musician Jamar Jones, an award-winning performer with a debut album, Fatherless Child, featuring music with the legendary Patti Labelle.

In a recent phone conversation, Mr. Adams discussed what motivates him as a father, how his business impacts the community and why all good fathers should put their partners first to keep the family strong.

In your opinion, what makes the Father’s Day Brunch such an important event?

“The Brunch rightfully shows fathers as heroes. Churches are always packed on Mother’s Day and society uplifts mothers as being important, which happens a lot more recently because many have been doing by themselves for so long. Fathers’ absences have is pretty much been accepted as a norm and those of us that who are out there doing it right need to be recognized. It’s also a way of showing another man how to pick up that mantle: when they see me or any of the other honorees, struggling fathers can say to themselves, ‘I can do this. I was going to give up, but now
I’m going to do what I can to be a good father, a good husband and a good leader as a man.”

Why is being a good father so crucial?

“In being a father, you give your child hope by being there to guide them. If you’re not, they raise themselves, which results in what we’ve seen in as far as the increase in Dallas violence over the last few weeks. Many kids have grown numb to the violence and to humanity, because there’s a lack of leadership, which teaches you learn different tools and techniques to solve problems.”

How does Brooklyn Sweeps help other fathers in the community?

“My sweeping service employs 80 percent former offenders who would otherwise have a hard time gaining employment to raise their families. If people don’t reach out to help or try to make a difference to others, there will be no change. If I don’t affect change, how can I expect the world to?”

A recent Time magazine article pointed out the importance of putting your partner before your kids. Do you agree?

“It’s the way God ordained it. Men are supposed to treat their wives like Christ treated the church. If you do that, respect the child and are raising them and providing for them the best you can, the kids shouldn’t feel slighted because you and your wife are operating as a team. Treating your family well puts you all in a better position as a strong unit that can contribute to the church, the community and the world.”