Chicago Dads Group is a diverse community of 1000+ fathers in the Chicagoland area who take an active role in our children’s lives. We create online and in-person connections to create supportive networks for fathers and their kids.
We provide resources, social groups and information for dads through our Meetup events, blog and podcast. We meet several times per week with our kids, at parks, playgrounds, museums, nature centers and parent/kid classes across the Chicagoland area — both city and suburbs. We’ll also organize parenting workshops and Dads’ Nights Out to give our members an opportunity to socialize, learn and support each other as we navigate parenthood.
We have dads of all stripes: working dads, stay-at-home dads, work-at-home dads, and so. We are all involved fathers who like to socialize and interact with other dads who enjoy spending quality time with their children.
Launched in 2012, the Chicago Dads Group is the second outpost in the national City Dads Group network.
Chicago Dads Group Organizers:
Brian Dykes
Brian is a freelance lighting director and production electrician in between his duties as an at-home dad to two daughters. He and his wife Cathi reside in Palatine, a Northwest suburb of Chicago. He has recently been featured on CBS, Good Morning America, Chicago FOX-12 Evening News and Chicago ABC-7 Windy City LIVE Talk Show representing the Chicago Dads Group.
Richard Owen
Richard is a financial advisor and proud father of two. He and his wife Kristin recently moved from Chicago to Elmhurst in the Western suburbs. He started the Chicago Dads Group in March 2012.
Editor:
Eric Bennion
Eric Bennion lives with his wife and two boys in Chicagoland area (the suburbs). He writes his own blog, DiaryDad’s Dadventures and contributes frequently to The Good Men Project and Life of Dad.
Contributors:
Victor Aragon
Victor Aragon Jr. is the co-creator of Fandads. When he is not chasing around his daughter and son, he can be found running through mud in an obstacle run or just running to try to keep in shape for his kids. Victor writes about trying to be a good father and sharing the geeky things he loves with his kids. You can follow his adventures on Twitter and Facebook.
Pat Jacobs
Pat Jacobs is an at-home dad in Chicago with a son, daughter, wife, and a dog. In his spare time, he co-manages the Just a Dad 247 blog and tries to make people laugh on YouTube. Pat has been seen on The Today Show and has written for Chicago Parent Magazine, the National At-Home Dad Network, and the books, Dads Behaving Dadly (1 & 2).
Ariel Isenberg
Ariel Isenberg is a stay-at-home dad to three kids who lives with his wife and minions in suburban Chicago. Although he became an at-home dad through circumstance, he has embraced the roll and is active in the at-home dad community. He has served on the board of The National At-Home Dad Network and has helped organize the Chicago At-Home Dad Network. He is an active advocate for all things “dad” at the local and national level.
Adam Gertsacov 
Adam Gertsacov is a clown, dad, blogger,actor, writer, husband, & friend. (not necessarily in that order.) He was active in the New York Dad’s Group until he moved to Chicago in 2014, where he has been active in this group as well. On his blog Dadapalooza.com, he writes about the F-words A LOT. (Food, Family, Culture, and Fun. And if you don’t think Culture is an F-word, well you probably don’t live in Wyoming. :O) ) You can also find him on Twitter, Facebook, and occasionally at a local pub.