Dovetail Project Receives Support From The NBA Foundation And The Chicago Bulls

Dovetail Project Receives Support From The NBA Foundation And The Chicago Bulls

By Tia Carol Jones of Citizen Newspaper

Sheldon Smith founded the Dovetail Project in 2009, with the goal to help young fathers between the ages of 17 years old to 24 years old. Fathers in the Dovetail Project program receive skills, tools and opportunities for careers that will help them become effective parents and leaders in their families and communities. Smith wanted to launch a fatherhood initiative that would support young dads because he was a young father, and his parents had him at the age of 18 years old.

Since its founding in 2009, the Dovetail Project has had more than 700 fathers graduate from its curriculum-based program, which teaches parenting skills, life skills, and felony street law. After graduating from the program, the fathers receive a job, a GED or trade, as well as ongoing case management support. On June 5th, the Dovetail Project will celebrate its 29th graduating class.