A Legacy of Leadership, Redemption, and Purpose —By Hailey Evans
From the streets of South Florida to the heart of South Carolina, Karriem Edwards has carried with him a calling greater than any title: to serve, restore, and uplift fathers and families. As the President of the South Carolina Center for Fathers and Families, Karriem leads with a rare combination of strategic rigor, lived experience, and relentless compassion—a combination forged through personal loss, professional reinvention, and a deep belief in the power of second chances.
A Wound That Became a Mission
Karriem’s journey began with heartbreak. On the last day of kindergarten, he lost his father to a heroin overdose. Raised by a fiercely devoted mother and surrounded by a constellation of mentors—uncles, coaches, camp leaders, and his stoic grandfather—Karriem was given what so many boys in his neighborhood lacked: guidance, structure, and hope.
Despite the odds, Karriem’s early experiences instilled in him a powerful truth: when a father is present, children thrive. When a father is absent, the ripple effects can last for generations. This insight would one day become the compass of his career.
From Corporate America to Community Impact
Karriem began his professional life in the corporate sector but felt an unshakable pull toward purpose. The turning point came in 2000, when a gifted young man he once mentored—a former sixth-grade calculus prodigy—was sentenced to prison at just 17 years old under Georgia’s three-strikes law. The system had failed him, and Karriem couldn’t sit still.
He left corporate America and threw himself into youth development, joining Junior Achievement and later the Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County. For over two decades, he served Title I schools and under-resourced communities, eventually helping scale a nonprofit from $0 to $10 million in annual revenue.
But as Karriem says, “We were offsetting the Davidvoid. We were helping kids cope with the effects of father absence, not fixing the root cause.” That realization led him to the world of fatherhood programming—a space he didn’t even know existed until a headhunter called.
Rewriting the Playbook for Fatherhood
In 2022, Karriem stepped into the role of President of the South Carolina Center for Fathers and Families. He inherited a respected organization but quickly realized the need for transformation. Rather than focusing solely on fundraising, he turned inward—streamlining operations, investing in staff development, and implementing a Six Sigma mindset to increase efficiency and accountability.
The results were staggering. Double-digit program growth without expanding the budget. A $300,000 deficit turned into a surplus within one fiscal year. An organization once navigating uncertainty became a beacon of innovation, stewardship, and measurable impact.
“From the moment I met Karriem, his infectious optimism stood out. I later came to understand that it was forged in the fire of his upbringing—and it’s that hard-earned hope that has fueled his early success as President of the South Carolina Center for Fathers and Families,” said TJ Clayton, Board Chairman of the SC Centers for Fathers and Families.
Karriem developed a guiding mantra: S.I.R.S.—Serve, Invest, Raise, Save. Every initiative must pass through this filter to ensure mission alignment and sustainability.
Stories That Matter
For Karriem, success isn’t just measured in metrics—it’s seen in the lives of dads like Turtle, who had never even seen a photo of his daughter before working with the Center. Today, he shares weekends and bedtime routines with her. Or Quentin, once defiant and disengaged, who now co-parents peacefully and shows up for holidays, school events, and court—with the full support of his child’s mother.
These stories aren’t the exception. They’re the result of a system working as it should—led by someone who knows what it feels like to grow up without a father and who refuses to let that cycle repeat for another generation.
A Servant Leader at the Core
Karriem describes his leadership style through seasons: first as a general contractor, then a personal trainer, now an offensive coordinator. He empowers his team, holds them accountable, and trusts them to lead. His office hasn’t seen turnover in over a year and a half. His staff laughs often—and delivers early.
He leads not for applause, but for alignment. Not for position, but for purpose.
Beyond the Organization
Karriem and his wife of 31 years are raising two daughters, one of whom was recently accepted into the South Carolina Governor’s School for Math and Science. Though he’s a father now, he knows firsthand what it means to be fatherless—and how critical it is for every child to feel seen, supported, and safe.
His long term goal is to work himself out of a job.
“We want a South Carolina where children are raised in healthy, two-parent households—and if we do our work right, one day we won’t be needed.”
A Call to Action
Karriem’s vision isn’t just for policymakers or program directors. It’s for all of us. See a dad at the park? Acknowledge him. Know someone struggling with co-parenting? Encourage him. Support organizations like the South Carolina Center for Fathers and Families not only with donations but with advocacy, storytelling, and community action.
Because when fathers are empowered, families are stronger. And when families thrive, so does our future.
About the Author:
Hailey Evans is a marketing strategist, award-winning storyteller, and passionate nonprofit advocate. With a gift for turning complex missions into compelling narratives, she helps leaders cut through the noise, connect with hearts, and drive meaningful growth. Learn more or connect with Hailey at strategiesthatstick.com.
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