Strong & Silent Fathers

06/24/2026

Fathers, partners, and support people — this is a chance to show up and help strengthen the village.

We are helping connect a small number of families to a Mothers’ Wellness Study that wants to hear from pregnant and postpartum mothers, along with their support person.

The study is focused on understanding what kind of support helps reduce stress and improve well-being during pregnancy and after birth.

They are looking for mothers who are:

In their 2nd or 3rd trimester, OR up to 6 months postpartum
18 or older
English and/or Spanish-speaking
Able to identify a support person willing to participate

That support person can be a father, partner, family member, doula, trusted friend, or someone walking closely with the mother during this season.

Eligible mothers may receive a $75 gift card, and support persons may also receive a $75 gift card after completing the interview.

We only have a few referral slots available.

Study link:
https://sites.google.com/view/mothers-wellness-study/home

When completing the form, please list:

Referral Name: La’Zette Smith

Presence matters. Support matters. The voices of our families matter..

06/23/2026

06/17/2026

For more than a year, this project lived in my mind, sketches, revisions, prayers, and countless moments of reflection.

Today, I am honored to share that STRONG & PRESENT is officially available on Amazon.

This book was never meant to be just a coloring book.

It is a celebration of fatherhood.

The everyday moments.

The conversations.

The lessons.

The prayers.

The laughter.

The grocery store trips.

The games of catch.

The moments that may seem ordinary, but become lifelong memories.

This book also carries a piece of my heart.

The name Jarell honors my son, LaSaaun Jarell. The cover reflects a vision that has lived with me for years—a father holding his son. While that moment exists differently in my story, his life, love, and legacy continue to inspire the work I do today.

As someone who has spent years walking alongside fathers through grief, healing, growth, and restoration, I have learned a simple truth:

Presence matters.

Not perfect fathers.

Present fathers.

This book was created to honor the fathers who keep showing up.

To my wife, who carried our son LaSaaun full term with incredible strength and love, thank you. To Dez, Demire, and Na'Lani, thank you for teaching me daily what fatherhood looks like in practice. I love you.

And to every father reading this:

Your presence matters more than you know.

📖 STRONG & PRESENT
A Mindful Coloring & Reflection Journey With Black Fathers and Their Children

Now available on Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H5L6ZQFQ?dplnkSrc=appbanner&dplnkId=915730a4-bbe8-451c-922a-54dfc54d5dca&dplnkSmart=Y&nodl=1

Tyiska Smithh La'Zette LaSaaun Lives Foundation
Nikia Smith

06/06/2026

1. Intention
Everything starts with a clear “why.” Set your intention with purpose.

2. Behavior
Take that first small action. One step turns thoughts into motion.

3. Habit
Repetition is power. What you do often shapes who you become.

4. Practice
With consistency, you begin to master. Practice makes alignment.

5. Second Nature
It flows effortlessly. You don’t think, you just are.

6. Routine
Now it's part of you. It’s just what you do, naturally.

06/01/2026

Hi village family. Friendly reminder to mark your calendars for 6/13. The Family Village will not be at the Bayview YMCA for our regular event. We will return in July. Stop by the Bayview Juneteenth event and you will see some of us and our partners there in community. Please help us spread the word.

05/03/2026

04/27/2026

🔥 FIRST BETA COHORT COMPLETE 🔥
Strong & Silent Fathers Initiative
In partnership with FACES SF

This wasn’t just a program…
This was a shift.

Over these past 6 weeks, we witnessed real transformation:

➡️ Awareness → Action
➡️ Reaction → Intention
➡️ Isolation → Brotherhood
➡️ Presence → Impact

These fathers didn’t just show up…
They leaned in. They did the work. They stayed committed.

What started as conversations turned into accountability.
What started as individuals turned into a brotherhood.

And now…
This work doesn’t end here.

It moves forward into their homes.
Into their families.
Into their communities.

Because when a father shifts…
Everything around him shifts.

This is what it means when we say:
Presence Is the Intervention™

Salute to every brother who stood tall in this cohort.
The mission continues. The impact multiplies.

LaSaaun Lives Foundation Tyiska Smithh La'Zette