Who We Are

First established in 2015 by a group of fathers in Kalamazoo, MI the Fatherhood Network (FHN) is a support group that is aimed at strengthening family relationships before, during, and after the child rearing process.

Executive Director

Kevin Lavender Jr. founded the Fatherhood Network in 2015. He is the proud father of three daughters and has a deep passion and commitment to supporting fathers and coordinating opportunities for dads to build community amongst each other while connecting with community resources. His hope is that fathers feel encouraged and supported in their role as a father.

Kevin Lavender Jr.

Director of Operations

Derek Miller is active member of the Kalamazoo community and the father of two sons. He's passionate about teaching and helping others reach their goals. After experiencing a rocky start to his fatherhood journey, he joined the Fatherhood Network in 2015. His hope is that fathers don't feel alone on their journey as a father.

Derek Miller

Director of Kalamazoo Black Golf Association

A proud father of a daughter and two sons, and husband to his loving wife Michaela. Anthony is a KVCC, and WMU alum by way of Aquinas College, and aims to elevate the BIPOC presence in the Kalamazoo area. Anthony joined the Fatherhood Network in 2024 to use his passion for brotherhood, community, and health to bring more diversity to the golf course while uniting the generations from the youth level to the most mature golfers using Summer Sundays League at Easternhills and the Swing for Success youth program. He is also a Training and People Specialist with Panera Bread.

Anthony White

Director of Wellness

Jacob Pinney-Johnson is a 4th- generation Kalamazoo resident. A recipient of the Kalamazoo Promise, he holds a B.A in Social Work with a Minor in Holistic Health.

His work experience includes a commitment to economic & criminal justice reform, health & wellness, youth development, family support & social justice, racial equity & advocacy work.

A proud father of two, Jacob has a drive and dedication to being a part of the success and upliftment of his community.

His hope is to end oppression, and that my children and future generations can experience health, wellness, and quality of life.

Jacob Johnson

Fatherhood Involvement Coordinator

Rumeal Washpun joined the fatherhood network in 2016. He is the proud father of two daughters and is committed to supporting fathers in becoming more present in their roles as a leader. His hope is to connect fathers to the resources needed to fulfill their role as fathers

Rumeal Washpun

Fatherhood Community Advocate

Orlando L. Little, Sr. is a well-connected and respected community advocate, deeply committed to empowering young people. As an active member of The Fatherhood Network, he works tirelessly to improve opportunities and quality of life for youth, particularly young Black males.

Born and raised in Kalamazoo, Michigan, Mr. Little attended Kalamazoo Public Schools and is the proud father of five children, ranging from a high school senior to young adults. His personal experiences with adversity, trauma, and life challenges have shaped his unwavering commitment to giving back to his community.

For over three decades, Mr. Little has positioned himself in spaces that allow him to equip young people with the skills and resources necessary to become self-sufficient, employed, and positively contributing citizens beyond school. With over 20 years of professional experience, he has developed and led impactful community programs focused on entrepreneurship, construction, masonry, gardening, and landscape beautification.

Mr. Little holds multiple certifications, including OSHA 30, Trauma & Trauma-Informed Care, Safe Crisis Management, and Historical Preservation, among others. His expertise and dedication have made him a trusted mentor and coach, known for his down-to-earth approach and ability to inspire youth to maximize their potential.

Spoken of highly by many, Orlando L. Little, Sr. is recognized as a strong, reliable voice in his community—one who leads with passion, initiative, and a deep commitment to the next generation.

"I submit to you that if a man has not discovered something that he will die for, he isn't fit to live.” ― Martin Luther King Jr.

Orlando Little Sr.

Our Mission

"The Fatherhood Network’s mission is to empower fathers to break down barriers that prevent fathers from having an impact on their children’s lives, their family, and their community. We also aim to create economic empowerment for fathers in order to improve their overall quality of life."

Our Values

Community

We Believe....

In and value our community
In the value and worth of all of our community’s children
In keeping our children safe
In the value of building community among fathers

Empowerment

We Believe...

That empowering fathers will build sustainability in our effort to engage and mentor one another
In empowering fathers to become their own advocate will provide for economic empowerment and opportunities to improve their overall quality of life for themselves and their family

Equality