As Atlanta welcomes the world this summer, a coalition of community organizations is working to make sure some of the city’s fathers are home in time for Father’s Day.

On Tuesday, June 16, the Emerald United Foundation, in partnership with Atlanta City Councilmembers Antonio Lewis and Byron Amos, will lead the Father’s Day Freedom Initiative — a citywide effort to bond out low-level, nonviolent fathers currently detained at Fulton County Jail. The action begins at 4 p.m. at the jail, located at 901 Rice Street in northwest Atlanta.

Nearly 77% of the individuals currently held in Fulton County Jail have not been convicted of a crime. Many remain incarcerated pretrial — separated from their children and households for weeks or months at a time — not because they pose a danger, but because they cannot afford to post bond.

“A family is not whole without its father,” said Brittany Brewster, founder and chair of the Emerald United Foundation. “Thousands of fathers remain detained for minor, nonviolent offenses — not because they are dangerous, but because they cannot afford to come home. As Atlanta welcomes the world this summer, we have a chance to show what this city’s values truly are. That starts with bringing fathers home.”

Building on the Mother’s Day Freedom Initiative

The June 16 effort builds on the momentum of EUF’s inaugural Mother’s Day Freedom Initiative, held May 7, which freed nonviolent mothers from Fulton County Jail and connected them to long-term wraparound support.

This time, coalition partner A Seat at the Table is making a landmark contribution, bonding out 11 fathers in coordination with EUF and the broader coalition — a demonstration, organizers say, of what becomes possible when community partners move together.

The timing carries added weight. The initiative unfolds as FIFA World Cup activities are underway at Mercedes-Benz Stadium and Juneteenth observances approach — a moment of unprecedented national and global attention on Atlanta.

More Than a Bailout

Organizers stress that the initiative is designed not only to secure release, but to support full restoration, with onsite services available to participating fathers the moment they walk free.

Those services include emergency healthcare and transportation through Healthcare & Emergency Solutions; housing support through PAD Atlanta; additional housing and realty resources through Head of Household Realty; workforce placement through First Step Staffing; opioid recovery and treatment referrals through Men and Women of Excellence; mental health and therapeutic care through Mindful Discovery Therapeutic Solutions; violence prevention through the Emory Hillandale Hospital Violence Prevention Program; family reunification and reentry support through Motherhood Behind Bars; bonding services through AAA Assured Bonding Co.; and additional community support through A Seat at the Table, 11th and Co., and Mothers Against Gang Violence.

“The household is only as strong as the man that leads it. How can he lead behind bars?” Brewster said. “Every father returned home is a household made whole again — and that is what restoration looks like.”

Pain Transformed into Purpose

Brewster founded the Emerald United Foundation following the personal loss of her mother and brother. Built on the belief that pain can be transformed into purpose, the Atlanta-based nonprofit is dedicated to empowering youth, strengthening families, and restoring hope in underserved communities through strategic partnerships, direct services, and community-led programming.

A community engagement and economic development professional with more than a decade of experience, Brewster currently serves as Community Engagement Manager at Atlanta BeltLine, Inc., and has held leadership roles within three offices of the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office. Over the course of her career, she has raised more than $1.5 million in funding and launched citywide initiatives in partnership with organizations including Amazon, Coca-Cola, and UNCF.

How to Get Involved

Community members interested in supporting or participating in the Father’s Day Freedom Initiative are encouraged to register at EmeraldUnited.org or by contacting [email protected]. Space is limited, and confirmed participants will receive additional event details upon registration.

What: Father’s Day Freedom Initiative
When: Tuesday, June 16, 2026 — 4 p.m.
Where: Fulton County Jail, 901 Rice Street, Atlanta

The Atlanta Voice is a media partner of the Father’s Day Freedom Initiative.

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