Daryl, the founder of DADvocacy, was born and raised in Spanish Harlem — “El Barrio” — during the height of the crack epidemic in the 1980s. Growing up in NYC public housing (shoutout to Lehman Village), life was often difficult, but Daryl, a sharp and street-smart kid, found joy and strength in his community.

Though school wasn’t his strong suit and he didn’t graduate high school, he later earned his GED and briefly attended college, determined to carve a different path. Throughout his early adulthood, Daryl worked in various fields before finding a place in nightlife, promoting events and working security.

At 22, he became a father — a turning point that shifted his entire life’s purpose. Determined to be the father he never had, he dedicated himself to building a stable, loving family, even through personal hardships like homelessness and financial setbacks.

In 2011, Daryl moved his family to Charlotte, North Carolina, to begin a new chapter. Now a proud father to 10 (five biological, five inherited) and a grandfather, he faced a life-altering health crisis that left him unable to work for over two years. Despite having been the rock for his family, Daryl found himself feeling isolated and unsupported.

The emotional and financial toll led him to a powerful realization: while men are often expected to be pillars of strength, they rarely receive the same support in return. This moment of clarity sparked the vision for DADvocacy — a nonprofit built on the belief that fathers need support too.

What began as a conversation with fellow dads turned into a mission to create a space where men, especially fathers, can find community, compassion, and connection.

DADvocacy exists because Daryl asked one essential question:

“Where is the support for men when we've been the support for everyone else?”