On the eve of Father's Day dozens marched to Cleveland's City Hall to pledge to be better men and fathers united in a mission to end to violence.
It's called the Father's Day Pledge and it's a national movement in which men across the country are making the same promise.
"When young two year olds are getting killed that's all of our problem…when our young women are being killed and thrown in vacant lots that's all of our problems," said Cleveland City Councilman Zack Reed, who helped organize the march and pledge on the steps of City Hall.
"When people believe that we solve our problems by going first to violence…there's a problem and we know that fathers can help," Reed continued.
Reed is hoping the march and Father's Day pledge will be a catalyst for putting words into action and inspiring more men to take pride and protect their families and others.
Among those in attendance was Brandon Fields, a father who felt compelled to support the cause.
"Being a man is not being hard and stern, it's having all kinds of emotions and feelings…and the power to help others," said Fields.
It's a powerful cause Councilman Reed says should be ongoing and statistics prove so.
"Seventy-one percent of all the dropouts in our nation come from fatherless families," added Reed.
More than a dozen local organizations ranging from The United Way to the Baptist Ministries Conference also pledged support.
"We have to have skills available, we have to have training available, we have to have mentorship available for men who over the years have lost what it is to be first men and second fathers," said Pastor Edwin Moore.
It's the first step in a long march Reed and others hope to continue.
