Zakiyy J.

The Passion of a Father: Zakiyy’s Road Back to Ta’ Lia

For Zakiyy, fatherhood was never just a duty; it was a series of cherished traditions. From the smell of breakfast they cooked together to the quiet magic of a backyard tea party, Zakiyy built his world around his daughter, Ta’ Lia. But when his relationship with her mother ended, those traditions were replaced by a landscape of broken promises and closed doors.

“Getting to see my daughter became mentally and emotionally draining,” Zakiyy remembers. “There was a fear of going to the courts. I was tired, but I couldn’t give up.”

Zakiyy’s journey took him from Atlanta to Wisconsin, chasing better-paying driving jobs to provide for a daughter he was rarely allowed to see. He spent his life on the road, tirelessly driving back to St. Louis between routes, often sleeping in hotels just for a few hours of visitation. Eventually, he realized that driving to her wasn’t enough—he had to move back for her.

A Blueprint for Reconnection: The 6-Week Transformation

Upon returning to St. Louis, Zakiyy enrolled in the Fathers & Families Support Center’s 6-week Family Formation program. This wasn’t just a class; it was a total recalibration of his approach to fatherhood.

• Finding the Brotherhood: Zakiyy found an immediate sense of belonging. “Because I was able to find a group of men who could relate to my situation, I found hope,” he shares. This fellowship gave him the emotional stamina to keep fighting.
• Transformative Communication: The program taught Zakiyy that how he spoke about his situation changed how he lived it. He mastered the power of respectful language, shifting from “baby mama” to “my child’s mother.” This fostered a new level of cooperation that had been missing for years.
• Practical Skills: He gained hands-on knowledge in areas like nutritious meal preparation, ensuring that when he finally won his time back, he was prepared to be a healthy, high-impact father.

Victory in the Courtroom and the Community

While the legal system can be intimidating, the FFSC legal department stood as a vital ally. They provided invaluable coaching on courtroom demeanor, etiquette, and questioning strategies. Armed with these tools and joint custody documentation, Zakiyy stood before the judge not as a “visitor,” but as a dedicated, responsible parent.

Today, Zakiyy’s perseverance has yielded a triumphant victory: He has been granted joint custody of Ta’ Lia.

A Life Reclaimed

Zakiyy’s life is no longer defined by highway miles, but by the simple, profound joy of picking Ta’ Lia up from school. Whether they are exploring the Science Center or sharing a meal at Golden Corral, he is finally the active, present father he always knew he could be.

“Fatherhood is a passion, not just a privilege,” Zakiyy says. “FFSC equipped me with the tools to succeed as a responsible dad.”

For Ta’ Lia, the result is simple: her dad isn’t just a voice on the phone or a face in a hotel room. He is right there, at the school gates, every single day.