How engaging fathers can improve outcomes for kids with Sundjata AyaTalking About Kids Talking About Kids is a weekly podcast that explores the latest information on issues impacting children and adolescents.

Release date: October 14, 2024

There is a simple equation when it comes to raising a healthy and happy kid: the more competent and caring adults there are in the life of a kid, the better off that kid will be. Unfortunately, policies and prejudices often prevent fathers from being present to their own children. My guest today to discuss these problems and what is being done to address them is the dedicated father, public servant, and public policy researcher at MEF Associates, Sundjata Aya. More information about Sundjata, including a links to his research projects, is below.

Biography of Sundjata Aya

Sundjata Aya is a dedicated father, community servant, and social policy/public health researcher, whose professional research interests include improving family and health outcomes for disadvantaged communities, reducing disparities, and promoting equity. Currently Sundjata’s projects support healthy family, fatherhood, and children. He provides leadership in technical assistance; engages federal, academic, and community experts, to inform research; creates technical tools and resources, to be used by programs; and leads disseminating research. Sundjata is also skilled in community based participatory research, evaluation, qualitative and quantitative methods, monitoring and evaluation, data research collection and analysis, federal contract compliance, fiscal management, internal auditing, and external reporting.

Prior to joining MEF Associates, Sundjata managed or supported a variety of local, federal, and international programs and projects. His projects ranged from youth development and educational consulting to public health research, technology, and communications. Sundjata holds a Master of Public Health, and a certificate in Cancer Prevention and Control from Morehouse School of Medicine, and a B.S. in Psychology from Florida A&M University. When Sundjata is not working, he enjoys spending time with his family, working with youth, deejaying, and exploring nature.