Award recipients at Trez Bistro Wine and Wine Bar. Photo: Jimmie Aggison Credit: Jimmie Aggison

BossLife & TWEF Foundation honoring Houston dads

Texas Womenโ€™s Empowerment Foundation and BossLife Foundation join forces honoring 10 local โ€œEveryday Dadsโ€ who go above and beyond the duty of fatherhood.

In partnership with Radio-One Houston, and Houston Style Magazine, approximately 300 submitted for this yearโ€™s recognition ceremony at Trez Bistro & Wine Bar. Honorees enjoyed a 3-course meal, complimentary drinks, along with swag bags.

โ€œI love giving back to the community, Iโ€™m just happy we can give back to the dadsโ€ฆ to let them know they are doing s good job,โ€ said BossLife Foundation Partner, Troy Green. โ€œBeing a dad is a job that doesn’t get enough love.โ€

Each father nominated had an extraordinary story of resiliency and commitment for family, debunking the myth of the โ€œdeadbeat dadโ€.

Kensley Blue is a 29-year-old roofer who worked three jobs to provide for his wife and four kids.

โ€œIโ€™m one of the younger dads in the room. I look at this award as a stepping stone to show other guys my age can see itโ€™s not a bad thing,โ€ said Blue. โ€œIโ€™m honored and blessedโ€ฆ there are other dads out there [who are deserving] and I just want to share my blessing with someone who needs [to hear] this.

โ€œIt [Being a father] means having to do a little bit better than our counterparts,โ€ said award recipient Russell Lewis. โ€œWe have to watch ourselves a bit more cautiously, we have to rise to the occasionโ€ฆ we have to put in the extra effort to make sure that we are on the road to success.โ€

โ€œItโ€™s our job to teach black males and females what the real struggles are like,โ€ said Aaron Washington, retired U.S Navy veteran and award recipient. โ€œTo be a dad is knowing that you bring a product in this world that is going to be conducive, productive and positive in the society. I put all my eggs in the basket for that when Iโ€™m raising my four children.โ€

I cover Houston's education system as it relates to the Black community for the Defender as a Report for America corps member. I'm a multimedia journalist and have reported on social, cultural, lifestyle,...