Parenting conversations — including scholarly, professional, and community spaces — have historically centered maternal roles, often leaving men’s lived experiences and contributions out of the narrative. This session creates a space to explore Black fatherhood beyond deficit-based stereotypes, centering the active engagement, care, and deep relationships that many Black fathers cultivate with their children.
Ron Waddell, Jr is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Legendary Legacies and father to Isaiah and Joshua. Ron combines professional training with lived experience to speak powerfully about trauma, recovery, and resilience. He is a respected voice on issues affecting youth and communities impacted by systemic harm.
Ron is a certified transformational life coach through the Association for Christian Character Development, a certified Gang Specialist through The National Gang Crime and Research Center and a Certified Youth Mental Health Specialist.
He is a Certified Recovery Coach and holds a certificate in Nonprofit Management and Leadership from Boston University. He has completed and co-facilitated multiple re-entry training inside MA Houses of Corrections. He is present at a number of community and state events and speaks passionately and eloquently about issues affecting marginalized communities.
Ronald has experienced many of the issues that affect the targeted youth participants of the Legacy Builders program, and uses this experience to better relate to marginalized youth throughout the City of Worcester.