Story & Lesson Highlights with Marquise Ryan of Chicagoland

Marquise Ryan shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Marquise, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
The first 90 minutes of my day set the tone, I wake up early, usually around 6 a.m. before the rest of the world feels awake. I start with prayer and a quick moment of gratitude to ground myself. Then I jump into preparing my daughter’s morning routine, brushing her teeth, helping her pick out clothes, and getting her ready for kindergarten and dropped off.

After that, it’s go time for me, I head to the gym and workout, and mentally review my goals for the day. Whether I’m heading to work, finishing classwork for school, or prepping content for Father Figures brand, I try to approach everything with intentional energy. I remind myself that I’m not just showing up for a job, I’m showing up for a purpose and that’s with everything.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Marquise Ryan and I’m a proud father, student, pta dad, content creator, and the founder of a growing movement called Father Figures.

Father Figures is more than just a brand, it’s a heart project. I created it to spotlight the power of presence in parenting, especially from a father’s perspective. It started small with custom shirts and community posts, and has now evolved into a nonprofit that hosts 5K runs, Podcasts, Daddy Daughter Dances, family wellness events, motivational videos, and giveaways, all aimed at strengthening families, brining them together and restoring hope where it’s been lost. My journey hasn’t been perfect. I’ve faced heartbreak, dealt with homelessness when I lost my home at one point, and had to rebuild my life. Fast forward I had child, beautiful baby girl and although it didn’t work the way I planned, I learning how to co parent and build that a strong relationship there that works for everybody. But every challenge shaped me and I’ve chosen to share those stories, not to impress people, but to let others know they’re not alone.

I also work and have a job, where I’ve been using my voice to inspire my coworkers through weekly motivational videos that have been shared store to store across the country. At the same time, I’m back in school pursuing a degree in Sonography, while also working toward a certificate in Child Development because I want to be able to provide and also pour into the next generation. What makes Father Figures different is that we’re not just a brand, we’re a presence. We meet people where they are, in the streets, parks, classrooms, even break rooms and we remind them they matter. Whether you’re a single parent, a young adult trying to get it right, or just someone searching for peace, Father Figures was built with you in mind. Right now, I’m focused on expanding our nonprofit work, getting more sponsorships, launching new events, and eventually opening a community center for parents and children to grow together. This journey is personal. It’s purpose driven. And I’m just getting started.

Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who taught you the most about work?
My mom, hands down. She taught me everything I know about work ethic — not by talking about it, but by living it every single day. I grew up watching her raise four of us on her own. There were times when she was working two, sometimes even three jobs at M&M Mars, Jewel-Osco, and Argonne National Laboratory, just to make sure we had what we needed.

She didn’t complain. She just showed up. Whether it was making sure we had food on the table, gifts under the tree on Christmas, or shoes for school, she found a way. I remember thinking as a kid, “This is just what moms do,” but now that I’m a parent myself, I see how much strength that really took. She made something out of nothing and still found a way to show love, to show up, and to never let us feel like we were lacking. That’s where my grind comes from. That’s why I take pride in every job I work, every project I start, and every community event I lead.To this day, I carry her example with me, whether I’m clocking in at work, taking care of my daughter, or building my brand from the ground up. She’s the reason I never quit.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I’d tell him, “You are not broken, you’re just becoming.” I know you feel like the world is on your shoulders, like you’ve got to be the man before you’ve even had time to be a kid. But I promise you, everything you’re going through, every heartbreak, every setback, every quiet moment you cried alone, none of it is wasted.

One day, you’re going to take all that pain and turn it into purpose. You’ll be the kind of father you never had. You’ll inspire people just by being real. You’ll lead with love, not ego. And you’ll understand that your voice matters, even if it shakes. So be patient with yourself. Stay kind. Keep going. There’s something beautiful waiting on the other side of everything you’re fighting through right now.

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes! What you see is what you get with me. The same person showing up on social media, in the community, at work, or just walking with my daughter, that’s me. I made a promise to myself a long time ago that I wasn’t going to build a life that looked good on the outside but didn’t feel right on the inside.

I’ve been through too much to fake anything. I lead with transparency, vulnerability, and purpose. That means the joy is real, the motivation is real, the fatherhood is real, the healing is real and so is the pain behind it all. I don’t share everything, but everything I share is me. My brand, my content, and my presence are all rooted in one word, authenticity. I don’t just represent Father Figures, I live it.

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope the story people tell is simple but powerful: He showed up with love, with purpose, and with heart. That I was the kind of man who turned his pain into purpose, who didn’t just talk about change, he lived it. That I poured into my daughter, my community, and every space I stepped into.

I want people to say I reminded them that they were valuable and that healing was possible, that fatherhood mattered and that faith still works. When people tell my story, I don’t want them to just say I made them think. I want them to say I made them feel. I made them believe again. I made them move.

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