27: Rebuilding Lives through Fatherhood with Jarron Cook

27: Rebuilding Lives through Fatherhood with Jarron Cook

Curious about how others manage fatherhood while tackling housing, recovery, and past justice involvement? This conversation shines a light on Fathers First, a grassroots organisation in Colorado Springs that focuses on men who are trying to rebuild their lives and families. Host Beth Rolstadt chats with founder and executive director Jerron Cook and case manager–turned “father figure” Ben Herbert.

Jerron explains how his own history as a single dad, justice involvement and a lack of support pushed him to create a space where fathers aren’t turned away. As he puts it, Fathers First aims “to create a community and a brave space for fathers to land,” built around three pillars: education, mentorship and transitional sober living housing.

You’ll hear how the programme grew from a self-funded “Dad’s Day Out” event into a full hub offering father circles, mental health meetings, peer groups and simple things like fishing trips and bowling that make it easier to open up. Ben shares how he went from a young, isolated dad at 19 to someone helping other men find what he once needed himself.

The episode digs into the very practical side of recovery and stability: structured housing in Fountain, a tiered programme focused on sobriety, employment and routine, and big-picture plans for future family housing. They talk honestly about the gap in services for single fathers, why pride and stigma keep some men from asking for help, and how Fathers First also supports young men and teens who may not yet be dads but still need healthy male role models.

If you’ve ever wondered how supporting fathers can strengthen whole communities, this conversation offers real-life examples, plenty of humour about ponytails and packed lunches, and a clear challenge: who are the fathers around you that might need this kind of community?