With the conclusion of a well-attended final event on May 13th in Racine, The Andis Foundation’s 2019 “Barbershop Mondays” program has come to a successful close. The community engagement series involved a partnership between Andis, the Milwaukee Bucks and community partner Safe & Sound to host a series of development events for at-risk young men in Southeast Wisconsin throughout the spring.
During a “Barbershop Mondays” event, youth community centers in Milwaukee & Racine are transformed into pop-up barbershops, offering free haircuts to young men between the ages of 10-23. Facilitated by Safe & Sound, the events are more than just a haircut with barbershop chairs providing a casual setting for open communication and dialogue among attendees. The focus of these discussions is on building social and emotional confidence, leadership and how youth can develop positive mentor relationships.
“Neighborhood barbershops have long played a critical role in their communities, providing a safe place for young men to gather and talk about issues with a positive role model – their barber,” said Laura Andis Bishop, President of Andis Foundation. “This innovative program is an extension of that important relationship.”
Along with the “Barbershop Mondays” community center events, Andis Educator and NBA Barber, Kenny Duncan, attended a Milwaukee Bucks game for a precision barbering demonstration to raise awareness for the program.
“The 2019 Barbershop Mondays season was a great success and an amazing opportunity for Andis to give back to our community,” added Andis. “Supporting local groups like Safe & Sound, with great partners like the Milwaukee Bucks, is an important part of our organization’s mission. We are already looking forward to the 2020 Barbershop Mondays series next spring!”