Chicago native and former Chicago Bulls player Kendall Gill stepped away from sports patter last night to talk about an unusual subject for athletes: Fatherhood. 

Gill says his one regret was not becoming a father sooner.
 
“Had I had children sooner it would’ve made me a better person, a better father, a better basketball player,” says Gill.

His comments came last night during the first in a series of events arranged by the White House to spur a national conversation about responsible fatherhood.  

The traveling town hall meetings will identify key issues surrounding fathers and families and what communities are doing to support them. Having an ear to the ground in regional areas will help the current administration tailor policy that will affect fathers and communities.

President Barack Obama’s speech during Father’s Day weekend started a nationwide campaign to highlight the importance of fatherhood, and how that role can affect a community.

“Children who grow up without fathers are more likely to drop out of school and wind up in prison. They’re more likely to have substance abuse problems, run away from home, and become teenage parents themselves,” says Obama.