Event provides books, cuts for boys

Barbers, librarians, counselors and students came together for a day earlier this month for an event focused on literacy, mentorship and personal growth.

Organized by Nikita Richardson, a social work professional at James Matthews Elementary School, the event aimed to provide boys with not just haircuts, but also access to books, emotional support and positive role models.

“The inspiration for this event came from the belief that literacy is not just about reading — it’s a key to unlocking academic success and a lifetime of self-sufficiency,” Richardson explained. “Combining this with social support, mentorship and community, we created a space where the boys can feel comfortable, empowered and supported, while also promoting the importance of reading and self-expression.”

Going into its fourth year, the event, which took two months to plan, faced hurdles such as getting the key players together and ensuring adequate volunteer support.

“One of the biggest challenges was coordinating schedules with the barbers and mentors, who all had different availabilities,” Richardson said. “Additionally, finding enough volunteers to manage the flow of students and make sure everything ran smoothly required careful planning.”

Collaboration was key to the event’s success. Lawrence Grissom, a local barber, played a crucial role in connecting with the Jefferson County Library. “He cuts the hair of Ricky Williams, the director of the library, and explained the mission of the event and how it would benefit the students,” Richardson said. “Ricky, who had heard about the event last year, was eager to get involved and expressed his excitement to support the initiative.”

The Jefferson County Library provided approximately 120 free books to local students. “While getting a haircut from Lawrence Grissom at the Fade Factory, I was talking to him about future projects that I wanted to do at the library, and that’s when he acknowledged the Barbers and Books event,” Williams said. “I then stated to him how the library should be a partner for this event because we have the largest collection of books in Jefferson County.”

After that conversation, Williams reached out to Richardson and offered their participation. “After contacting the event organizer and telling her how the library would like to partner, she welcomed us as a participant, and the rest was history since we already had a surplus of books to give away,” Williams said. The books were then donated by the Pine Bluff Friends of the Library.

The event was tailored to meet the specific needs of the students, identified through discussions with administrators, teachers, counselors and parents over the past four years. “Through these discussions, we identified that many students required additional literacy support, positive role models and emotional guidance,” Richardson said. “We tailored the event by integrating mentoring sessions with the barbers, where students can engage in meaningful conversations with positive role models.”

Funding and supplies came from various sources, including local businesses, the social work department and personal donations. Richardson’s mother even contributed by creating balloon columns for a festive touch.

The day’s activities included haircuts, book distribution by library staff and counseling sessions provided by the P.A.T. (People Advocating Transition) Center. “I created a detailed schedule for each component of the event, assigning specific roles to volunteers to ensure everything ran smoothly,” Richardson said. “This coordination allowed each component of the event — haircuts, books and counseling — to run efficiently, providing the students with a well-rounded and supportive experience.”

Fifteen volunteers assisted with various roles, from decorating to managing stations and directing students. To manage the flow of students, appointments were staggered, and an area was created for students to relax and read while waiting.

“The overall atmosphere was positive, welcoming and empowering,” Richardson said. “There was a sense of excitement, especially as students shared their stories with mentors while getting their haircuts.”

Kaden Cartwright, a sixth grader, expressed his feelings about the haircut, saying, “I felt really good about getting my haircut.” When asked if he liked his haircut, he simply replied, “yes.” Kaden said his favorite part of the experience was “my hairline,” and he described his interaction with barber Grissom as “chill.”

He also noted the event’s impact on his life: “By making me look nice.” When asked what he liked most about the event, he said, “getting my haircut,” and suggested adding “games” to make it even better. Kaden shared a conversation he had with his barber, stating, “The barber and I talked about how I could become a barber.” He also felt more confident after the haircut, saying, “After getting my haircut I feel more confident in myself.”

Another sixth grader, Jakavious Carradine, “loved” his haircut, with his favorite part being “when he did my hairline.” He described the interaction with barber Jerrold Glee as “chill and cool.” Jakavious said he felt the event was “good” and suggested more food to enhance the experience. He also shared a conversation with his barber, saying, “we talked about sports.” He felt the barber “acted like a friend more than a barber,” which made him feel more confident.

Craig Smith, also in the sixth grade, described his haircut experience as “good” and liked the style. He appreciated that the event was free and found his interaction with barber Roosevelt Barnes to be good.

The initiative brought together several talented barbers, including Gregory Farris, Barnes, Quincy Larry, Jarvis Price and Grissom, all of whom were eager to give back to their community. The barbers shared their motivations, experiences and the profound impact the event had on the students and themselves.

Farris said he was “motivated by forming a connection with students, helping make a difference for those in need.”

“The most rewarding aspect was seeing the smiles and boost of confidence on the children’s faces,” he said. Farris was surprised that every kid was satisfied with each cut and learned how to adapt to different personalities and be patient along with communication skills.

Barnes, who was inspired to participate after seeing a post about last year’s event, said, “I came with no expectations outside of paying forward what was freely given to me.” He highlighted the “smile on the faces when the young men looked in the mirror saw the finished cuts” as the most rewarding aspect. Barnes also emphasized the community spirit.

“It was welcoming to see the community of school, staff, library staff, local barbers, friends and others come together for a genuine cause,” he said. He said he believes the event showed the young men that there are men who are concerned about their well-being.

Larry said he found the engagement with the youths and knowing that their day was a little brighter to be the most rewarding part. He was surprised by how talkative some of the kids were and believes sometimes they really just need a listening ear.

Price emphasized the importance of making an impact on young lives.

“I believe many people want to give back to their community and make a positive impact on young lives,” he said. “This experience made me see the importance of being not just a barber but a community supporter.”

The event was deemed a success, with many students expressing surprise at receiving free books.

“Most students were shocked that we were giving away not one but two free books,” Williams said. “Growing up, I was not always fortunate to purchase books at a book fair, so it was a great feeling to provide free books to students and add them to their personal collections.”

Williams said the reading component promotes literacy and shows that the local barbers care not only about the way the students look but also about how reading will help shape their minds for the future.

“Any event that involves literacy most definitely aligns with our mission to provide access to information while promoting a love for reading and supporting lifelong learning,” Williams said. “We hope that every kid who participated in this event was inspired to get a library card after learning about the different resources our library offers. We are more than just books.”

For Richardson, seeing the students’ reactions was the best part.

“The most rewarding moments were seeing the smiles from the students when they looked at themselves in the mirror, engaged in reading and leave the event feeling more confident about themselves and their futures,” she said. “Feedback from students was overwhelmingly positive. They appreciated the opportunity to talk to mentors, share their experiences and receive a haircut while reading. Parents were thankful and volunteers expressed their joy at being a part of something so impactful for the students.”

Richardson plans to follow up with the students to assess the long-term impact of the event and hopes to secure more resources in advance for future events. “I learned the importance of community partnerships and how essential it is to have the support of local businesses and mentors,” she said. “I also learned the value of taking a hands-on, personalized approach to event planning to ensure that all students’ needs are met and that everyone involved has a positive experience.”