Dr. Charles C. Daniels LICSW

Dr. Charles C. Daniels LICSW Licensed Therapist, CEO at Fathers' UpLift, Father of 2. Strengthening families. TED Speaker.

I was speaking with our Board Chair, Stephanie, about the direction of our work at Fathers' UpLift, Inc., and we landed ...
04/02/2026

I was speaking with our Board Chair, Stephanie, about the direction of our work at Fathers' UpLift, Inc., and we landed on something that may feel counter to how impact is often measured.

We’re not chasing numbers for the sake of scale. In a time like this, we’re focused on loving the people we serve as fully as we can.

That doesn’t always align with mainstream philanthropy—but as Stephanie said, the work is all about love. And I believe love isn’t separate from scale—it’s the strategy for it.

Think about those who impacted your life most. You may not be able to quantify it, but you can still feel it. That kind of impact lasts. It spreads.

I’m sharing this as an invitation.

We’re launching a monthly newsletter, “A Love Letter: From My Study,” written directly from me—sharing what we’re building, learning, and experiencing in real time.

If you want to stay connected beyond the numbers, I invite you to subscribe (at the bottom of this page): https://www.fathersuplift.org/ (Link in Bio)

Grateful to be in this work with you all.

~ Charles

02/26/2026

Entering the third month since my mother’s passing has been quite the experience.

I find myself reflecting, crying, leading, fathering, and sitting with my therapist — sometimes all in the same day. This journey is not pristine, and I do not pretend for it to be. It is real. It is layered. It is human.

What I feel most, even now, is the impact of my mother’s love. In many ways, I feel it more deeply than ever.

Today we celebrate her birthday — now that she is an ancestor. Samantha shared a video of the last time we sang “Happy Birthday” to her while she was still with us. I had brought her a cake from the vegan restaurant I love (the same one my wife and kids strongly dislike). Truth be told, my mother didn’t enjoy the cake much either. But she absolutely enjoyed our presence. And that’s what mattered.

The memories are many. Today they make me both grateful and sad.

But sadness is not something to frown upon. It is a gift. It is evidence of love. It is the heart honoring what mattered.

So today I am embracing the sadness the same way I embrace joy — fully and without apology.

Let’s love the people who are still here and honor the impact of our ancestors, whose love continues to shape us long after they transition.

With gratitude for the love that formed us all.

Happy birthday, mom. ❤️

The mental health workforce needs YOU.We’re accepting applications for the USTR Fellowship at — built to increase BIPOC...
02/26/2026

The mental health workforce needs YOU.

We’re accepting applications for the USTR Fellowship at — built to increase BIPOC therapists in the field.

✔️ Funded licensure prep
✔️ Mentorship
✔️ Employment support

& cohorts.

Apply today or tag someone who should.
Link in bio.
(Direct link: https://www.fathersuplift.org/careers/ustr-fellowship-application/)

Let’s build the workforce our families deserve.

🚨 PAID OPPORTUNITY FOR BLACK MEN IN BOSTON 🚨Our partners at are now accepting applications for the 2026 Black Men Heali...
02/18/2026

🚨 PAID OPPORTUNITY FOR BLACK MEN IN BOSTON 🚨

Our partners at are now accepting applications for the 2026 Black Men Healing Circle Ambassador Leadership Cohort.

This is a powerful leadership + wellness opportunity for Black men who want to build community and support healing across Boston.

💰 $1,500 stipend
🧠 Training in healing-centered + trauma-informed facilitation
👥 Lead 8–10 Healing Circles

📅 March 13–15, 2026
📍 801 Albany St, Boston
⏳ Deadline: Feb 23, 2026

🔗 Apply: [Link in Bio]

Please share with the men you know. Let’s get the word out. 🙏🏾

FathersUpLift HealingCircles

I want to take a moment to thank God for guiding the hands of my urologist and surgeon, Dr. Mellis, during my surgery ye...
02/11/2026

I want to take a moment to thank God for guiding the hands of my urologist and surgeon, Dr. Mellis, during my surgery yesterday.

For some time, I’ve had a mass that had been steadily growing. Due to concerns that it could be cancerous—or create complications down the line—my medical team strongly recommended that it be removed as soon as possible. After talking it through, Samantha and I made the decision to move forward.

I’m grateful to share that the surgery went well. The mass has now been sent to the lab for testing, and we are awaiting results. In this moment, I’m pulling on the faith of my mother—now an ancestor—while holding close to the words she lived by: “God got it.”

I wanted to share this update simply to let you all know that I’m okay. Life has been doing what it does best, but I remain positive, hopeful, and focused on the calling through it all.

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about how physical health can be one of the hidden barriers to reconnection in fatherhood. Taking care of ourselves is part of staying present—part of staying in the fight—for our children and our families.

With deep gratitude and appreciation to the doctors, nurses, and staff who cared for me so well. It meant more than I can put into words.

~ Dr. Daniels

So grateful for every prayer, message, and kind thought you’ve sent our way during our baby boy’s journey through four s...
01/01/2026

So grateful for every prayer, message, and kind thought you’ve sent our way during our baby boy’s journey through four surgeries. It has meant more than we can ever fully express.

I’m happy to share some great news. He recently had his second-to-last cast removed, and in just one more week, the final cast comes off for good. He’ll transition to his brace and keep moving forward. He’s no longer walking on his toes, and if all continues to go well, he’ll be ready to chase his dream of playing basketball by this summer.

I’ll admit, I know absolutely nothing about basketball, so I’ll be leaning on other parents for guidance when that time comes.

Thank you for standing with us, encouraging us, and loving our family through this journey. We don’t take any of it lightly.

~ Charles

It’s been a journey finding my footing since my mother gained her wings. Some days grief hits me like a ton of bricks, a...
01/01/2026

It’s been a journey finding my footing since my mother gained her wings. Some days grief hits me like a ton of bricks, and other days I can breathe a little easier. Each day, I make a conscious choice to treat grief like a visitor, not a roommate.

Today, though, my heart is full of gratitude. I want to take a moment to thank the people who made my mother’s final days on this earth, and her homegoing celebration, something our family will always remember and cherish.

First, I want to thank my Auntie Diane for being by my mother’s side every single day. Watching the bond between sisters, how they raised us and cared for one another, taught me more than I ever realized at the time. I underestimated that bond once, but I never will again.

Sending so much love to my cousin Shaun, who was truly like a daughter to my mother. She never left her side, and for that, I will be forever grateful.

To Auntie Debra, thank you for advocating for my mother. Your voice, your strength, and your love meant more to me than I can put into words.

To Auntie Diane’s children, you have been a constant source of joy and uplift in my mother’s life for as long as I can remember. From family gatherings and parties to laughter and unforgettable moments, Mom always knew she was loved. I’m so thankful for each of you.

To our church family at Midway Missionary Baptist Church (Pastor Edward Reynolds and Judge Penny Brown Reynolds), thank you for standing faithfully beside my mother. Your kindness, prayers, and warm embrace will forever be imprinted on my heart.

And last, but certainly not least, thank you to the Rucker Funeral Home for taking such great care of my mother and helping make this process as smooth as possible. We appreciate you more than you know.

There are many friends and loved ones I may not have mentioned by name. Please know that our gratitude extends to you as well. If I don’t get the chance to thank you in person just yet, know that it will come. Until then, please know how deeply thankful we are.

With gratitude and appreciation,

~ Charles

I used to hear my patients talk about the pain of losing their mother. I listened. I cared. But I didn’t really understa...
12/31/2025

I used to hear my patients talk about the pain of losing their mother. I listened. I cared. But I didn’t really understand. Now I do.

My mom was my constant. My safe place. My biggest supporter. As we step into a new year without her physically here, I’m honestly still trying to understand what my life looks like without her presence in it.

One question keeps coming back to me in the quiet moments:
Is my mom proud of what we’ve done with the love and support she gave us?

While reflecting on her final days, I came across a photo of me with Steve Harvey. At the time, it was just another interview. Another opportunity to share our mission. Today, it means something entirely different.

During my mother’s last days, despite the pain she was in, she would light up watching Family Feud. Steve’s voice. His laughter. That show brought her moments of peace in the middle of a very painful battle. I didn’t even know how much she loved him or his work until the final weeks of her life.

And then it hit me. For her to see her baby boy interviewed by someone she admired and enjoyed watching… I know that had to mean everything to her. That realization still brings tears to my eyes.

So I want to say thank you. Thank you to Steve Harvey for the opportunity. And thank you to God for letting me learn something new about my mother while I was home with her.

Celebrity and success go deeper than applause or recognition. Sometimes, they bring comfort. Sometimes, they bring peace. And sometimes, they give someone you love a reason to smile when smiling is hard.

I have so many memories of my mom. But the image of her staring at the TV, laughing through the pain during her final days, will forever live in my heart. There were tears. But those moments were sacred.

As we enter a new year without some of our loved ones here in the flesh, let’s try to remember how they lived, who they loved, and how deeply they loved us.

At least… that’s what I’m telling myself.

Happy New Year, family. 🤍

— Charles

Dear family and friends,We are proud to share Connected Fathers: Reading, Reflecting, and Raising—a powerful story time ...
11/04/2025

Dear family and friends,

We are proud to share Connected Fathers: Reading, Reflecting, and Raising—a powerful story time series hosted by our friends at the Vital Village Networks.

This is more than reading books with your child. It’s about building connection, sharing reflection, and supporting the emotional and social well-being of both caregiver and child.

📅 Dates: November 5, 12, 19, 20
🕕 Time: 6:00–8:00 PM
📍 Location: Global Ministries Christian Church 670 Washington Street, Dorchester, MA 02124

✅ Free dinner
✅ MBTA/gas cards
✅ Curated book kits to take home

This is open to fathers, uncles, grandfathers, and male mentors with children ages 0–8.

Let’s build stronger families—one story at a time.

~ Fathers’ UpLift

10/30/2025

Here’s a snippet from my talk with students at Pepperdine University’s School of Education and Psychology.

In moments like these, some lessons hit a little deeper. I shared something with them that I remind myself of every single morning.

It’s simple—but it might be exactly what we need to hear right now.
m
With so much gratitude,

Dr. Daniels

I’m excited to share that on December 11, I’ll be guest lecturing at Harvard University’s School of Public Health, thank...
10/26/2025

I’m excited to share that on December 11, I’ll be guest lecturing at Harvard University’s School of Public Health, thanks to an invitation from Dr. Elizabeth Janiak.

Dr. Janiak’s course examines critical issues including family separation as a tool of state control, racial inequities in child welfare, and the economic pressures surrounding “voluntary” adoptions.

This year, I’ve been invited to contribute a perspective rooted in positive intervention and family reunification — sharing lessons from our work at , where we help fathers and families overcome systemic barriers to reconnect and heal.

I look forward to engaging with future public health leaders who are ready to challenge harmful systems and build pathways that keep families together.

Dr. Daniels

On November 6th, we’re opening up a powerful conversation on leadership, resilience, and the future of Black men and boy...
10/17/2025

On November 6th, we’re opening up a powerful conversation on leadership, resilience, and the future of Black men and boys in America.

As Black nonprofit leaders, we believe in showing up with transparency and heart—and we’re inviting you to join us.

In-Person: TSNE: 89 South Street 700 Boston, MA 02111
Virtual: Tune in right here or via Zoom (registration and zoom link in bio)

What to expect:
Lessons from our experience in today’s political climate
Our journey as a Black couple serving fathers, children, and families
Our vision for the future

Samantha Fils-Daniels and I hope to see you in the flesh to say hello and answer any questions you may have.

With so much gratitude,





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