“We have a disproportionate number of African-American boys waiting for mentors – men that can promote positive values and goals,” says Roderick Miles Jr., African-American Partnership Manager for Big Brothers Big Sisters. “We need black men to step up now, and our partnership with area barbershops and local fraternal organizations to spread the message is an unprecedented step in that direction.”
Currently, African-American males make up 10% of all active mentors in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program locally, while 37% of all the kids that are currently waiting for a mentor are African-American boys.
Grooming Men of the Future began in 2005 at three DFW barbershops. That year 10 men stepped up to mentor boys in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. On September 22 from 9am to 1pm the organization has the goal of identifying at least 100 men to serve as mentors.
Participating barbershops include Tye’s Barber & Beauty Salon in Plano, Natural Edges in Lewisville, Unique Techniques in Garland, Freeloaders Barber & Salon in Desoto, ITS Beauty Academy in Denton, Kutinfed Barbershop in Dallas, Perfections by Keith in Irving, Kay’s Barbershop in Fort Worth, Big Mike’s Barbershop in Fort Worth, Chop Shop Barbershop in Fort Worth, Faded Blue Lounge Barbershop of Choice in Fort Worth, and J Kinlow Hair & Body Lab in Arlington.
Big Brothers Big Sisters is a donor-supported volunteer organization that places caring adults in the lives of children in one-to-one mentoring relationships. Through the positive impact of those friendships, children with a Big Brother or Big Sister are more likely to graduate from high school and are less likely to begin using drugs, begin using alcohol or engage in negative conflict. For more information, contact 888.887.BIGS or www.bbbstx.org.
