Bronx father and Renaissance Youth Center founder Bervin Harris shares why showing up, building confidence, and helping kids see themselves as leaders are at the heart of both parenting and community.
At a Glance:
Bervin Harris believes showing up consistently is one of the most important parts of parenting.
Through the Renaissance Youth Center, he teaches kids to see themselves as leaders and problem-solvers.
Harris hopes children carry confidence, culture, and the feeling that someone believed in them.
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Bervin Harris: Raising Kids, Building Community
In New York, many parents know that parenting often extends beyond our front door. Support, especially in how our kids thrive and learn, community is everything. For Bervin Harris, that couldn’t be truer. Not only a dad, but he is also the force behind the organization Renaissance Youth Center, located in the Bronx.
Bervin has built a life around showing up- not only for his own children but for countless others in his community, which is run very much like his approach to fatherhood- grounded in presence, consistency, and the belief that every child deserves to feel seen, and this seeps into his success of helping many kids and families.
We chatted with Bervin about being a dad and how it has shaped the way he leads, what it’s taught him over time, and why simply showing up every single day matters more than anything.
How has being a dad shaped you, not just at home but in the way you move through the world?
Being a dad has shaped me into a role model with real responsibility attached. Children are always watching how we walk, how we talk, what we value, and what brings us joy. I move through the world knowing I’m on a stage being observed, sometimes mimicked, and often held accountable, especially in a position of leadership. I embrace that. I’m proud to be the lead actor in my life’s story, knowing my children and the young people around me are always watching.
You’ve spent so many years showing up for young people through the Renaissance Youth Center. How does that experience show up in the way you parent your own kids?
It comes down to two words: showing up. My parents loved me, but being physically present at events wasn’t something they saw as important. I was provided for, but children need more than that. They need presence. They need to feel seen and supported. So, I make it a priority to show up to school events, performances, and everyday moments that matter to them.
Even something as simple as a ride or a walk to school sends a message: I care about your journey. Truth be told, I started the Renaissance Youth Center as a way to spend more time with my children. I started the organization and registered them in the program. Many never knew they were my children, for I try to treat all children the same.
Photo Courtesy of Bervin Harris
When you think about the kind of adults you’re raising, what values do you come back to again and again?
I want my kids and the thousands of young people I’ve worked with to see themselves as part of the solution, not the problem. That mindset builds teamwork, communication, and accountability. When young people engage in problem-solving together, they grow into adults who lead, collaborate, and strengthen the relationships around them.
What has surprised you most about being a dad, or felt harder than you expected?
The hardest part is feeling like you’re never enough. Not enough time, not enough resources, not enough knowledge, you always feel like you could give more. But over time, I’ve learned something important: I may not feel like enough to myself, but I am more than enough to them.
Looking ahead, what do you hope your children and the kids in your organization carry with them through life?
I hope they carry good memories, a strong sense of culture, and the confidence that someone believed in them and held them to a high standard. That combination stays with you and shapes how you move through the world long after childhood.
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