Today we’d like to introduce you to Antonio Harvey.
Antonio, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My journey has always been rooted in service, leadership, and legacy.
I began my career in education as a teacher, serving students for 15 years in the classroom. During that time, I learned that education is not just about curriculum. It’s about relationships, expectations, and belief. I saw firsthand how the presence or absence of strong parental support, especially fathers, directly impacted student success.
After 15 years in the classroom, I transitioned into administration and have now served 7 years as a school administrator. Additionally, I serve as a Community Manager for Memphis-Shelby County Schools for 7 years, where I focus on strengthening school culture, driving academic achievement, and building meaningful partnerships between schools and families.
But my professional journey intersects deeply with my personal story.
Despite being a principal responsible for supervising and supporting the education and safety of over 300 children daily, I was denied joint custody of my own children. That experience was both humbling and eye-opening. It exposed systemic gaps in how fathers are viewed and engaged ,even when they are capable, committed, and present.
Instead of becoming bitter, I became activated.
That moment became the catalyst for my fatherhood advocacy work. I founded FathersFirst Memphis to create a platform that empowers fathers, strengthens families, and ensures that men are not just seen as financial contributors , but as essential, active leaders in their children’s lives.
What started as a personal fight turned into a community mission.
Today, my work sits at the intersection of education, fatherhood, and community leadership. Whether in schools, courtrooms, churches, or community spaces, I am committed to shifting the narrative around fathers and creating systems where families thrive.
My story is still being written ,but the mission is clear: Empower fathers. Strengthen families. Build legacy.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Not at all ,it has not been a smooth road.
Professionally, moving from teacher to administrator required a complete mindset shift. As a teacher for 15 years, I controlled my classroom. As an administrator, I had to influence adults, navigate complex systems, manage competing priorities, and make high-stakes decisions that impacted hundreds of children and families. Leadership comes with isolation. There were seasons where the weight of responsibility felt heavy , balancing academic performance, staffing challenges, district expectations, and community trust.
But the deeper struggle was personal.
Being denied joint custody of my children despite serving as a principal responsible for the safety and education of over 300 students was one of the most difficult moments of my life. It forced me to wrestle with frustration, disappointment, and questions about fairness. It also exposed how fathers can be overlooked in systems that should be centered around children’s best interests.
There were financial strains, emotional battles, legal frustrations, and moments where I had to decide whether I would become bitter or better.
Starting FathersFirst Memphis brought its own challenges building credibility, funding programs, rallying fathers who sometimes felt unseen or unheard, and pushing against long-standing narratives about men and fatherhood.
But every struggle refined the mission.
The obstacles didn’t stop the journey. They clarified it. They strengthened my resilience, deepened my empathy, and made the work more personal. What could have broken me instead built a platform.
It hasn’t been smooth ,but it has been purposeful.
As you know, we’re big fans of FathersFirst Memphis. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
FathersFirst Memphis was born out of both personal experience and professional insight.
After navigating my own custody battle and seeing the systemic gaps fathers face, I realized something powerful: fathers don’t lack love — they often lack support, structure, advocacy, and community. FathersFirst Memphis exists to close that gap.
What We Do
FathersFirst Memphis is a fatherhood engagement and empowerment organization focused on:
Father Engagement Programming in schools and communities
Policy and Systems Advocacy for equitable father involvement
Workshops and Trainings for fathers on leadership, co-parenting, financial literacy, and legacy building
Father-Child Experiences that strengthen bonds and visibility
School-Based Father Chapters that integrate dads into educational spaces
We operate at the intersection of education, family systems, and community leadership.
What We Specialize In
We specialize in helping fathers move from being present to being intentional.
We don’t just encourage dads to “show up.”
We equip them to lead.
Our work centers around:
Identity and mindset development
Navigating custody and legal systems
Breaking generational cycles
Economic empowerment
Community impact
We are also known for helping schools increase father engagement in measurable, structured ways — not just through one-off events, but through sustainable models.
What Sets Us Apart
What sets FathersFirst Memphis apart is that we are led by someone who sits inside the education system daily. I understand school systems, policy, data, and family dynamics — not just from theory, but from lived experience.
We combine:
Educational leadership
Personal fatherhood advocacy
Community organizing
Strategic systems thinking
We don’t operate from a place of blame. We operate from a place of responsibility and restoration.
Our messaging is bold, but our approach is collaborative.
We are not anti-anyone.
We are pro-father.
And ultimately, pro-child.
What I’m Most Proud of (Brand-Wise)
Brand-wise, I’m most proud that FathersFirst Memphis has become synonymous with dignity and strength.
We’ve built:
A recognizable visual identity (red, black, and white — strong, bold, unapologetic)
Apparel that sparks conversation and pride
Programs like Fatherhood Fridays, Dinner with Dads, and father mentorship spaces
A growing network of committed fathers who are visible in schools and communities
I’m proud that when people hear “FathersFirst,” they think leadership — not absenteeism.
What I Want Readers to Know
FathersFirst Memphis is more than a nonprofit. It’s a movement.
We offer:
School partnerships
Speaking engagements
Fatherhood workshops
Community events
Brand collaborations
Leadership development for men
Strategic consulting on father engagement
But beyond services, we offer something deeper — belonging.
We are building a culture where fathers are:
Equipped
Empowered
Engaged
Economically aware
Emotionally intelligent
Spiritually grounded
At the core of our brand is one belief:
When fathers rise, families stabilize.
When families stabilize, communities transform.
This is not just work for me.
It’s legacy.
And we’re just getting started.
How do you think about happiness?
I’m happiest when I see transformation. When a father who once felt pushed to the margins stands confidently in a school hallway holding his child’s hand. When a student who struggled begins to believe in themselves. When a teacher feels supported. When a family stabilizes because a father stepped fully into his role.
As a man who has spent 15 years in the classroom and 14 years in administration, I’ve seen how deeply a present, engaged father can change the trajectory of a child’s life. And as someone who fought personally to be fully present in my own children’s lives, those moments mean even more.
I’m happiest when my children feel secure, when they know their father is consistent, loving, and leading with integrity. Legacy brings me joy. Knowing that what I’m building ,through education and through FathersFirst Memphis ,which will outlive me, that makes me happy.
I’m also happy in growth. Growth in schools. Growth in systems. Growth in men. Growth in myself. Growth in my children. I believe happiness is tied to purpose and I feel most alive when I’m operating in mine.
At the core, what makes me happy is seeing fathers win, families strengthen, and children thrive.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.fathersfirstmemphis.com
- Facebook: Fathersfirst Memphis
