We recently connected with Erik Condoll (Crondo) and have shared our conversation below.

Erik, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

Our Black Fathers Committee started off as a Pan Afrikan study group and has evolved into so much more. We help Black Father’s and young black men in our community and abroad with mentorship, financial literacy, employment and fitness and well being.

The ultimate goal is our mission to change the narrative of Black Fathers in the community one father at a time.

Erik, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Growing up as an at risk youth in Maryvale Arizona and experiencing everything that the streets can teach you. Raised by a Baptist mother and stepdad who was with the Nation of Islam I was taught core vales and knowledge of self at a young age. I was taught to be proud of my culture and to never downplay that. Experience is the best teacher, with the trials and tribulations I’ve went through I now apply that knowledge in my mentoring with Our Black Father’s Committee. We are the first all black organization in Phoenix that is Afrikan Centered with our mentoring and guidance. For a long time in the city Black Father’s and young Black men in this city were not represented correctly, we would have to go elsewhere to receive services and mentorship by someone we could not relate to. We have broken that cycle and will continue to do work, plant seeds and live by the Afrikan proverb of Sankofa! We are in the process of opening up a community center that would help with fitness, employment resources, multimedia and mentoring/counseling. That is the ultimate goal our mission is to change the narrative of Black Father’s in the community one father at a time.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

The goal is to change the narrative regarding Black men. We come from the original people of this Earth. You don’t have to be an athlete or a entertainer to deem yourself successful. You can a scientist, a physician or entrepreneur. The mission is to instill knowledge of self and responsibly in manhood and fatherhood in our community.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

To build your presence on social media you just can’t be on social media. You have to be actually in the realm you want to be in. Your presence has to be felt not just online but in person. People have to be able to relate to you as being real not just an internet person because that could be anybody and easily misrepresented.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.obfconline.com
• Instagram: @crondomatic
• Facebook: Erik Condoll
• Linkedin: Erik Condoll
• Twitter: @ecrondo
• Youtube: Our Black Father’s Committee