He is the Executive Director of the Upstate Fatherhood Coalition. The Coalition was designed as a partnership between many social service, city, county, non-profit and economic agencies to sustain the presence of men in the lives of their children.

Walker has worked for the juvenile justice system, where he helped youth learn skills that cut down on their sentenced time. He also taught special education and coached children; often times looking around and asking, "Where are the fathers?" He worked, as well, as the Community Programs Director for the YMCA, where he directed summer camps and after school programs. Again, he noticed that the fathers were absent.

This lead to a pursuit of purpose at the Upstate Fatherhood Coalition.

The organization believes in placing emphasis on fathers, families and children. The Fatherhood Coalition sponsors many parenting and co-parenting activities to encourage this behavior. Most importantly, Walker wants the efforts to put the spotlight on the benefits gained by the children.

"The biggest thing missing from our families are our fathers," says Walker. "However, we hope to strengthen the family. This, in turn, will strengthen the community which, in turn, will strengthen our society."

Participation in the program is voluntarily. Currently there are about 79 active participants in Greenville County, 75 in Spartanburg County and 11 in Anderson County. Walker hopes more men will see the importance of this initiative.

He feels that his purpose has been driven by God. Growing up in poverty, Walker went on to attend college and study computer science. However, the desire was there to make a change and to help curb the ugly pattern that surrounded his community. To gain fulfillment and to know that he would make a difference, he changed his major to social work.

Kelly Walker is proud of the path he has paved. He knows he is part of the solution and not the problem.

He continues to push for improved programs for fathers who need another chance. A recent development, a program known as ATI, provides an alternative to incarceration for fathers that fall behind on child support. It is his wish that initiatives like this provide the extra push to get men back into the lives of their children.