Officially founded in May of 2025, Vermont Fatherhood is a nonprofit organization on a mission to value, support and educate fathers so they can be the best for their children and families. The Vision of Vermont Fatherhood is that every dad feels supported and has the skills they need as a parent and to increase the quantity and quality of their time with their children.
Vermont Fatherhood helps to fill a gap for fathers, where there is limited support and societal value on a dad’s place in a child’s life. Through empowering dads and providing community, children and families are more likely to thrive.
Philosophy and approach
Fathers are often undervalued by themselves and the community around them. We hope to help fathers become more in tune with their worth as a dad and their impact on their children. Raising children is hard work and we need all hands on deck. Through skill-building, connection to other men and raised expectations, fathers will become more involved with all of the aspects of fathering and supporting their families. We also want the community around them to see the role of fathers as valuable. With a supportive community that welcomes fathers and engages them, fathers will continue to show up in positive ways for their families and their community.
All Vermont Fatherhood programs are free to participants.
Vermont Fatherhood aims to make strong connections for fathers and those who work with families, including child care providers, schools, social service agencies, health care providers and businesses.
The Director
Josh Miller is one of the founders of Vermont Fatherhood and the Program Director. He has been working with men and fathers for 20 years. He has initiated a number of men’s groups for his own personal growth and connection to men. He grew up without a father and understands the loss and pain of not having a positive male figure in his life. In 2007, Josh approached a local HeadStart program in Brattleboro and began a dads group called Dedicated Dads Making a Difference. This group inspired him to do more work with fathers including individual coaching, home visiting and a prenatal education program that discussed what to expect as a new father. Josh led staff training about the importance of engaging men in their children’s lives and helped develop community awareness about how we value and work with fathers. Josh continued his work at the Family Room in Burlington, helping fathers develop their employment skills as well as facilitate parenting and support groups. He also worked with dads at Northwest Correctional Facility where he worked with incarcerated men who were transitioning back to the community and their families. Josh has run Fatherhood Summits in Brattleboro, Burlington and Morrisville, convening many community partners in the importance and value of supporting fathers. He has also facilitated fatherhood programs in Bellows Falls and Montpelier. Josh also has 4 sons and one granddaughter.
The Board of Directors
Greg Stefanski is the father of three adult children who are exploring and contributing to the world in beautiful ways. He grew up outside of Detroit, moved to Chicago for college and landed in Vermont in 1999. He was the Executive Director at Laraway Youth & Family Services until 2019 and then worked at a variety of health and human organizations in Lamoille County. Currently, he is the Executive Director of Quaker Voluntary Service. In 2015, he met Josh Miller and partnered to launch Vermont Fatherhood. He is also Josh’s nemesis on the basketball court. Greg is the Chair of the Vermont Fatherhood Board.
Yeonju Kim grew up in Korea with a loving and supportive father, whose presence taught her how important fathers are and how much of a difference they make in their children’s lives.
She moved to Vermont in 2001 and came to love it far more than she expected — even the winters she once worried about. Vermont was her home for over 25 years, and although she moved to Austin, Texas in 2025, it remains a big part of who she is.
She works as the Human Resources Coordinator at the Janet S. Munt Family Room and enjoys being part of a team that supports families and strengthens community connections. In her free time, she loves hiking, gardening, crocheting, quilting, and spending time with her family — moments that help her slow down and enjoy the simple things in life.
James Lemmon joined the Vermont Fatherhood Board in May 2025. A proud father of two remarkable teenage children—as well as two cats and two dogs—James brings both personal and professional passion to the work of supporting fathers and families.
Originally from Brooklyn, New York (and a firm believer that pizza is life), James is a lifelong educator and currently serves as a senior leader at a private school on the West Coast. His career has taken him across two continents and three countries, working with diverse communities and a wide range of learners. These experiences have deepened his belief in the vital role a father plays in a child’s development.
James understands firsthand how a present, supportive, and engaged father figure can shape a child’s sense of identity, confidence, and future. His commitment to strengthening fatherhood is grounded in both his own journey as a parent and his dedication to building more connected, resilient families.
Gordon Matheson is a fifth generation Vermonter who is a dedicated family man. After meeting his future wife in Vermont, they spent time in Oregon before coming back to Vermont to start a family. As a father of two little girls, spare time is hard to come by. Working as a Plant Accountant at a rural electric utility, he is fortunate enough to spend most of his free time embarking on fun exciting adventures with his family. With years of experience coaching youth sports teams, ranging from elementary to high school, he values the importance of a male role model in every child’s life. Josh “walked” into his life during the summer of 2020, and their friendship has developed into an opportunity to serve as a member on the board of directors for Vermont Fatherhood.
Thomas Devine is the father of two boys. He has a B.A. from Boston University and a J.D. from George Washington University. Tom practiced family law in Massachusetts and Vermont for many years before being appointed in 1994 to the Vermont Judiciary, as a Family Court Magistrate. In 2005, he was appointed a Superior Judge. He retired in 2022. In his leisure, Tom enjoys spending time with his wife and sons and taking long walks with his two crazy dogs. He remains committed to improving outcomes for Vermont families and children.