Beyond the Rollercoasters: How Fixing Fathers is Building a Foundation for Hamden’s Youth

HAMDEN — On a late August day that felt like the final, triumphant exhale of summer, a massive DATTCO bus idled on the pavement, its doors open to a group of young people and families ready for a day of escape. But for the organizers at Fixing Fathers Inc., the trip to Six Flags New England was never just about the thrill of the rollercoasters. It was a deliberate, strategic investment in the social fabric of Hamden and New Haven. As of today, Friday, August 28, 2026, the impact of such initiatives remains a cornerstone of community health. In a region where youth-serving organizations are increasingly vital—often acting as essential violence interruption tools and safe havens for adolescents—the work of Fixing Fathers goes beyond simple recreation. The organization, led by Dr. David Lee Asbery, has long understood that when you provide young people with access to new environments, you are not just giving them a day of fun; you are expanding their horizons and reinforcing their sense of belonging. ‘This is bigger than an amusement park,’ Dr. Asbery noted in a recent reflection on the trip. ‘These are young people spending time together. Families getting an opportunity to enjoy themselves. Community partners coming together.’ The photograph from the event captures a diverse group of youth standing confidently before the bus, a visual testament to the ‘Fixing Fathers’ mission of reunifying families and empowering the next generation. This mission is critical in a state where, as noted by Dr. Gwendolyn B. Williams of the New Haven Youth and Recreation Department, work-based learning and community engagement are essential for building self-esteem, empathy, and social capital among youth. The trip was made possible through a collaborative effort involving the United Way of New Haven, Hamden Youth & Family Services, Karen Bivens, and Mr. Lamond Battle.  Whether it is through the organization’s diaper bank, their rental assistance programs, or these high-energy excursions, Fixing Fathers is consistently ‘being the one they rely on.’ As the summer winds down and the school year approaches, the memory of laughter at Six Flags serves as a reminder of what is possible when a community decides to invest its time, resources, and energy into its children. Trips may end, but the foundation built during these shared experiences lasts a lifetime. Fixing Fathers continues to prove that by supporting the fathers, you are ultimately fixing the future of the entire family unit.