Today we’d like to introduce you to Detrick Green.
Detrick , we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My name is Detrick Green, and my story is one of transformation, responsibility, and purpose revealed over time. I’m originally from Memphis, Tennessee, where my journey began in environments shaped by instability and limited examples of consistent leadership—especially when it came to fatherhood. Like many people navigating those conditions, I made decisions early in life that led me down a difficult path. Those choices resulted in incarceration and years of separation from opportunity, from family, and from my role as a father. That absence became the greatest teacher of my life.
During that period, I was forced to confront the cost of being unavailable—not just physically, but emotionally and spiritually. I didn’t yet understand what my life would become, but I knew that if I was given another chance, I couldn’t return unchanged. That internal shift marked the beginning of real transformation. After my release, rebuilding was slow and intentional. In 2015, that personal change took form through the founding of F.A.T.H.E.R.S. (Focusing Attention Towards Helping Enrich Relationships Spiritually). What began as a commitment to live differently became an organization centered on restoring the role of fathers and strengthening families from the inside out. One of the earliest expressions of that work was the creation of the Outstanding Father Awards, recognizing men who were present, accountable, and leading their families the right way. As the organization grew, so did the work—community events, mentorship, advocacy, and service. In the years that followed, I also served as a member of the Memphis Police Department’s clergy, working at the intersection of faith, trust, and community engagement. That role deepened my understanding of how absence, trauma, and broken relationships contribute to many of the challenges our communities face. Like many mission-driven efforts rooted in in-person connection, our momentum was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. That season forced everything to pause and recalibrate. Coming out of the pandemic, I transitioned into professional roles aligned with the same mission—first as a life coach, and later as a case manager with Youth Villages / Memphis Allies, working in gun violence prevention from 2022 forward. That work placed me directly alongside individuals and families impacted by violence and instability, reinforcing what I had learned for years: prevention begins with presence. During this time, the vision expanded further with the creation of the Father Shift Curriculum—a structured framework designed to help men examine accountability, identity, leadership, and responsibility—and the launch of the Father Shift Podcast, where these conversations could reach beyond physical spaces. To ensure I was leading responsibly and with integrity, I also became ordained through Christian Leaders Institute, grounding my work in service while remaining accessible to people from all backgrounds. In 2025, I relocated to Houston for what became both a personal and spiritual reset. The move was driven by a clear calling—to expand the reach of F.A.T.H.E.R.S., continue the Father Shift work, and fully restore my relationship with my daughter, Dierra. Houston became the place where my journey as a father, a leader, and a servant aligned. Since arriving, I’ve continued presenting Outstanding Father Awards and building community connections rooted in the same values that shaped the work in Memphis.
Looking back, I didn’t always understand what all of this was leading toward. Today, I see that the organization, the curriculum, and the conversations are reflections of a simple truth: a productive, present father—doing things the right way—is the foundation of a healthy society. When fathers are engaged and accountable, families stabilize, communities strengthen, and many of the issues we face begin to heal at the root. My story isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress, responsibility, and choosing transformation. If that journey can help shift how we think about fatherhood, leadership, and community, then every step has been worth it.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has not been a smooth road, and many of the challenges have required resilience both publicly and privately.
One of the earliest hurdles was rebuilding after incarceration—earning trust again, reestablishing credibility, and navigating life with a new mindset while surrounded by familiar pressures. Growth required patience, discipline, and a willingness to confront uncomfortable truths about myself.
Building F.A.T.H.E.R.S. also came with its own challenges. Grassroots work often means limited resources, inconsistent support, and carrying much of the responsibility alone. While the mission was clear, sustaining momentum required persistence, especially when progress wasn’t always met with recognition or stability. The COVID-19 pandemic became a major disruption. Much of the work depended on in-person connection—events, mentorship, and community engagement—and that sudden pause stalled years of progress. Like many others, I had to adapt quickly and reassess how to continue serving in an uncertain season. After relocating to Houston, I encountered an unexpected challenge tied to a legal name change. What I believed would represent a positive step forward instead created complications due to my background, with some organizations misinterpreting it as an attempt to conceal my past. That misunderstanding has limited employment opportunities and added financial strain, making it more difficult to sustain and expand the organization during this transition. At the same time, balancing purpose-driven work with fatherhood brought its own weight. I had to confront the gap between building something meaningful publicly while needing to fully restore things privately. That realization forced difficult but necessary choices centered on alignment rather than comfort. Through all of this, perseverance has been essential. These challenges have not stopped the work, but they have refined it—clarifying my priorities, strengthening my resolve, and deepening my reliance on faith during a season where consistency, patience, and trust have mattered more than visibility.
As you know, we’re big fans of F.A.T.H.E.R.S. Organization (Focusing Attention Towards Helping Enrich Relationships Spiritually). For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
F.A.T.H.E.R.S. is a fatherhood-centered organization focused on strengthening families by restoring the role of present, accountable, and engaged fathers. Founded in 2015, the work is built from lived experience and addresses the root causes of many challenges facing communities today—absence, instability, and a lack of positive male leadership. At its core, the organization emphasizes responsibility, consistency, and personal growth. One of the most visible initiatives is the Outstanding Father Awards, which recognize men who are actively showing up for their families and leading by example. These awards are not about perfection, but about commitment—and they’ve continued since my relocation to Houston as a way to highlight positive models of fatherhood locally. As the work evolved, so did the approach. This led to the development of the Father Shift Curriculum, a structured framework designed to help men examine identity, accountability, leadership, and the impact of their presence in the home and community. To extend these conversations beyond in-person spaces, I also launched the Father Shift Podcast, creating room for honest dialogue around fatherhood, growth, and responsibility. What sets F.A.T.H.E.R.S. apart is that it doesn’t rely on theory or surface-level motivation. Everything is grounded in real-life experience, practical application, and consistency over time. The focus is not just on individual improvement, but on generational impact—because strong families are the foundation of healthy communities. Brand-wise, I’m most proud of the integrity behind the work. F.A.T.H.E.R.S. reflects a belief that when fathers are present and intentional, many social issues begin to change at the source. My goal is for readers to understand that this isn’t just an organization—it’s a movement centered on rebuilding families the right way, one father at a time.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
What I like most about Houston is the diversity and resilience of the city. It’s a place where people from all backgrounds are building, creating, and reinventing themselves. There’s an openness here that makes it possible to start fresh, and a strong sense that effort and authenticity still matter. For someone focused on community and family-centered work, that spirit has been encouraging.
My only real dislike so far is the traffic. Houston moves fast, and getting from one side of the city to the other definitely requires patience—but it’s a small tradeoff for everything the city has to offer.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.fathersorganization.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/f.a.t.h.e.r.s.1?utm_source=qr&igsh=MmhtdnAya2IxMXZ4
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1MiQXjeCav/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/detrick-green-942a22159?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=android_app
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@divinewisdomtv-o9s?si=qWY1HPitW6Yg45N_
