Member Highlight: Garrick Thames

Garrick Thames knows firsthand what it means to break free from the cycle of hardship. As the founder of Lives Are Meant to Be Changed, a Boston-based nonprofit, Thames is dedicated to helping others, particularly fathers, reclaim their purpose and strengthen their connections with their children. Having battled addiction, incarceration, and the weight of being disconnected from his own father, Thames has transformed his struggles into a mission: to educate and empower fathers to become better versions of themselves. 

“I’ve always said lives are meant to be changed,” said Thames.

Thames is an advocate for change through recovery, self sufficiency, and breaking the cycle that he feels many, like himself, are born into. He is an advocate for fathers becoming better versions of themselves and connecting deeper with their children. 

Thames started his journey with Union Capital (UC) when UC was just starting up, and had been involved in the “life-changing” organization since. Through UC, Thames was able to embark on a journey of recovery from addictions, prisons, and the idea that he was a social outcast. What Thames notes as the first big step towards recovery is being able to accept the fact that he needed help, and subsequently accept help. 

“We gotta start looking at our own value, not what people tell us,” said Thames.

Thames ties back his mission of educating fathers on how to be better for their children to his own childhood and how he was raised. Thames did not know his own father, and grew up under the impression that his father was not a good man. So when the time came, Thames wanted to reconnect with his dad, and found out that he was a strong, community-oriented man. Thames’ perspective changed completely. “I met my father, I met my dad. I never had a relationship with him.”

Thames’ aims to put emphasis on the idea that fathers can be nurturers too because of how he was raised, “Boy’s don’t cry, toughen up.” Thames studied ages and stages of child growth and development in order to be a better father to his own children. Now, Lives are Meant to be Changed continues to work and educate not only fathers, but fathers in recovery. 

“We have a lot of educational programs. I work with a lot of men who are formerly incarcerated. I pick them up from the prison and take them to the ORC [The Office of Returning Citizens] and get them involved in community activities.”

Part of Thames’ mission is to bridge the gap between fathers and their children by providing resources, for example recovery resources, transportation resources, play groups, donations, fathers day basketball tournaments, and community activities. This goes hand-in-hand with Thames’ involvement in Union Capital. Thames saw firsthand how the community he had built through Union Capital helped him access resources and people, and wanted to build a likewise community for people, specifically fathers, who go through struggles similar to his. 

“I’ve been involved [with Union Capital] for the past ten years. It's life changing because not only do they bond you closer to the people, but the network coordinators, we’re like family.” said Thames as he reflected on his journey with Union Capital, and finding strength through his community and networks.

Thames has written a few books, some including, “Why I Hated Oprah,” and “The Three Princes of Roxbury.” These books act as a testament to the support Thames received through Union Capital while also showcasing his own personal strength and growth.

“There’s young men fighting for their children, like I fought for mine. And I’m all about resources, the more resources the better. I invite a lot of community partners to come out and just support the fathers. My passion for fatherhood is very dear to me, it’s knowing I have someone behind me no matter what.”