Making connections at Dad 2.0 Summit
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I had known about the Dad 2.0 Summit for several years, but I was never able to attend. There was always some combination of work obligations, family responsibilities, limited funds, and zero proximity that had made it nearly impossible for me to attend.* Thanks to the generosity of supporters of the Oren Miller Dad 2.0 Scholarship Fund, I was able to attend this year’s Summit in Washington, DC. It was a weekend full of much-needed connections.
And I loved it.
But first, a little pre-conference sightseeing…
After flying out of Indy before the crack of dawn, I landed in DC at around 8 a.m. I was able to check into our room at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, grab some breakfast with one of my roommates, and walk to the National Mall. I had a few hours to kill, so I decided to make the most of it.
As you can see, it was a bit breezy. And chilly.
But I wound up completing what I called the National Mall Challenge. You can read all about it here.
Now, about that Dad 2.0 Summit…
The weekend was all about connections. You could say that I connected with history and culture when I took the National Mall Challenge. And you’d be right, of course. But the connections didn’t stop there.
I connected with brands at Dad 2.0
I came in contact with some amazing brands who are doing some amazing things to support fathers and fatherhood, like Dove Men+Care – the conference’s premier sponsor. I’ve been able to do some pretty cool stuff with Dove Men+Care before. Like take my boys to the NCAA Men’s Basketball Regional Semifinals and Finals. It was pretty sweet.
I tried Caulipower pizza. And their chicken. I really, really liked their chicken.
I also got to hang out with some fine folks from Best Buy, LEGOLand, and GSK. They were pretty great.
I was most moved, however, by the work that is being done by a company called Bark. We watched this video during one of our main sessions. I had the opportunity to talk with the young woman in this video. I’ve been part of the digital landscape for more than 15 years. I thought I knew about the dark underbelly of the digital world. This video opened my eyes. I thought I was informed. I wasn’t. It’s likely that you aren’t, either.
I’m glad to say that I have joined Bark’s influencer program. I’m looking forward to partnering with them to help keep our kids safe online. They have a 7 day free trial that you can start today, if you’d like.
Of course, I connected with other dads at Dad 2.0, too
The real strength behind the Dad 2.0 Summit really shouldn’t be any surprise. I mean, it’s in the name. It’s the dads. Dads from all over the country converged on our nation’s capital for a weekend of connection. I was challenged. I was inspired. But I was also encouraged. It was pretty cool to be part of such a diverse group of people who were all dedicated to one thing: being great dads.
From keynote addresses to breakout sessions to receptions and workshops, there were so many opportunities to meet and connect with other dads – dads who are passionate about…well…being better dads. It was a dad-tastic dad-stravaganza of dads.+ I got to meet some people I’ve stalked followed online for years. It was great to finally put faces with their digital identities. I got to meet some of my digital dad heroes. I also met a whole lot of dads I’d never run into before online or in-person.
Plus, I had the chance to have some amazing Ethiopian food at Dukem Ethiopian Restaurant with some pretty great people. I was so excited about eating beef tibs that I totally forgot to take a picture of everyone at the table. So you’ll have to settle for a picture of the plate we shared.
Jealous? Yeah. You really should be. Like I said, this dinner was AMAZING. We followed that up with some drinks at Off The Record, a hotel bar across the street from the White House.#
Powerful stories and powerful connections
Perhaps the most memorable experience, however, was the Dad Voices gathering on Friday night. It’s kind of an open mic night that gives dads the opportunity to share their stuff. It could be a blog post you’ve already published. Or a sonnet or two that you’ve composed. Or an unfinished piece you’ve been working on.
I heard some powerful stories that night. I felt like I really got to know some of the dads in ways you don’t get to know someone while you’re sitting in a workshop or drinking cocktails. It was a time of real connection. And it was beautiful.
I had debated all evening whether to share one of my posts or not. Halfway through the night, I finally gathered up enough nerve to sign up. I shared a post that had never been posted on this site. It was a moment of vulnerability as I talked openly about some of the struggles of parenting through adoption.
After I shared my story, I sat back down. A gentleman turned around and shook my hand. He told me he’s an adoptive dad, too. And he’d been going through similar struggles. And we talked for the rest of the evening, sharing stories and encouraging each other. A moment of openness led to a moment of connection. It was a beautiful thing.
And that, friends, is what makes the Dad 2.0 Summit so powerful. It’s connections like these that rarely happen in any other setting.
I’ll be back.
Thanks for an amazing experience, Dad 2.0. Thank you for the memories. And thank you, especially, for the connections.
I’ll be back. That’s a promise (not a threat).
endnotes
*The Dad 2.0 Summit has been in Austin, Houston, San Diego, San Francisco, San Antonio, New Orleans (twice), Washington DC (twice), and nowhere near the Midwest. Come on, guys. Throw flyover country a bone.
Seriously. We’d love to have you come to Indy. Let’s talk.
+ Don’t act all surprised by this sentence. Is it really a post about a dad conference if it doesn’t include some dad-level puns? Just be happy I didn’t whip out the dad jokes.
# OK. Indy doesn’t have a swanky bar across the street from the White House. That does make DC a little bit of an easier sell than Indy. But we have some great Ethiopian restaurants. And other great things. But that sounds like another post for another time.
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