The destruction of families in the US over the past half-century or more has had tremendous, detrimental effects on society in uncountable ways. And in "Project Fatherhood", Jorja Leap demonstrates how the loss of fathers has been a crucial factor in that destruction. And yet, this book carries a message of hope: that there are men out there who want to reverse the trend, to take responsibility for their actions and to step up to be the father figures that all children so desperately need. The characters who appear in Leap's narrative are real, fleshed-out men, each of whom brings his own heavy past, current struggles, and misconceived assumptions into their meetings. That the fatherhood group is able to overcome these obstacles and discover a sense of unity and purpose bodes well for the next generation. ( )

This very readable book details the creation and maintenance of the Project Fatherhood movement in Watts, South Los Angeles. The men's stories are compelling and speak of many truths: 1) growing up without a father can lead to similar fatherhood issues for those growing up without a male role model, 2) poverty and hopelessness breed crime, 3) each of us is shaped by our environment in ways that are often unrecognizable, and 4) even within those that we consider hardened criminals can lie a complex and caring person. I greatly enjoyed this book, but did sometimes find the fact that everything was told from the perspective of the author a bit distracting. Even though Dr. Leap recounts the stories of the men and uses quotes from them, I found myself wondering if having the men tell their stories themselves might have made the work even more powerful. Regardless, this was a moving read! ( )

Dr. Jorja Leap, the author of Project Fatherhood, A Story of Courage and Healing in One of America’s Toughest Communities, is an internationally recognized expert in gangs and violence. She, in partnership with Michael Cummings, a previous drug dealer and gang member, runs a community group in Watts for men who want to learn how to be better fathers. The group meets weekly and explores issues that include their own fatherless upbringing, their prior involvement in gangs, drugs, and violence, and their need to impact the community so the young men coming up can have different, better lives than they had. Funded by the Housing Association of South Central Los Angeles and leaned on by both The Nation and the police force, the group struggles with their past, the problems facing the ghettos today, and their concerns for the future. The story of the evolution of the group was an engaging story and Dr. Leap is a competent writer. I would have appreciated if the story had been more outcome focused; has there been any changes in the violence in the Jordan Downs housing complex that could be attributed to the group’s meetings? Perhaps that information is still in the future. The group has only been in existence for 2 years and the fact that the men are coming regularly, talking candidly about their regrets and their hopes for the future, and supporting each other is progress enough to applaud. ( )

This is a feel good book about a father's group in Watts, one of the toughest neighborhoods in the US. The group seems to make a real difference in the lives of the men of the community. And the men in the community begin to become advocates and learn to help others in the community. Some of the men, especially the leader Big Mike, appear to be so impressive.

While the content of the book was interesting, I had trouble with the author Dr. Jorja Leap clear prejudice. She dislikes Republicans and makes it very clear. For example, "There is enough antigovernment sentiment in the room to make a Republican blush." (pg. 48). In addition, at times she comes off as a self-hating white woman. "I feel like the group is acting more white, Anglo-Saxon Protestant than black in its complete denial of any problems." (pg. 63). I would have liked the book more if she had left out those type of comments.

I would recommend this book because it does tell a story that is not often told of the good in a community like Watts. But at the same time, I would caution that there seems to be some bias and to read it with a critical eye. ( )

I thought this book was very thought provoking and felt that the author genuinely cared about the subject matter. One of the things that I didn't much care for was the author's switching back & forth between the vernacular of the people she works with, and in the next paragraph sounding like a professor, it was a bit jarring, trying to process it. I love the fact that the proceeds from the book go right back into the organization, and I hope and pray that other areas are able to adopt programs like this. I felt that the subject matter of the book is timely, that it's much needed, and that it's long overdue. I would definitely recommend this book to everyone! ( )