A native of Australia, Brandon Clift came to America as a young man—a full circle moment in his family. “My dad was born in Chattanooga but hasn't lived here since the 80s,” Brandon shares. “So, we essentially traded places.” When Brandon met his wife, Christine, in Chattanooga, that’s where he decided to stay.
Before coming to America, Brandon helped establish and facilitate men’s groups and while he initially wasn’t looking for a group in Chattanooga, Brandon soon sought one when he found out he was becoming a father. Brandon desired a men’s group with diverse faiths, ethnicities, socioeconomic statuses, and orientations. After being unable to find such a group in Chattanooga, he decided to create Men Who Chatt through the ManKind Project—the organization of his former men’s group in Australia. “It was my calling to put a group together,” Brandon says. “I knew that I needed to surround myself with other men also navigating life through fatherhood.” The ManKind Project has over 1,000 groups worldwide and the Chattanooga chapter is their fastest-growing in America.
Now going strong for four years, Men Who Chatt meets once a week for two hours and goes on multi-day outdoor rites of passage twice a year. Key values of Men Who Chatt include brotherhood, authenticity, respect, and confidentiality. One of the goals of the group is to provide a judgment-free space for men to share their challenges and support each other through them. “Men are raised that they're not allowed to talk about the tough things,” Brandon explains. “It's important for us to be in spaces where we can talk about our challenges without having to pretend we have it all figured out. That's what's so liberating—knowing that we're not alone in our challenges."
As someone who recently moved countries and began the road of fatherhood, Brandon was greatly impacted by the strong community surrounding him. “I learned that I could only go so far alone,” Brandon shares. “I can go so much further when I have men that care, respect, love, and are there for me and I'm there for them.” Brandon encourages men to step out of their comfort zone to open themselves up for that support as well. “Join a men’s circle,” he says. “Do it for your son, your daughter. Do it for your wife, your partner, and your community.”
Visit MenWhoChatt.com to find a men’s circle, learn more, and contact Brandon.