One South Side organization said it hopes to use free haircuts to attract more Black men to its weekly men’s gathering where health and other social issues are discussed.
One South Side organization said it hopes to use free haircuts to attract more Black men to its weekly men’s gathering where health and other social issues are discussed. “The life span for the average Black is around 56 opposed to 65 for the average white man,” said Marcus Murray, executive director for Project Brotherhood, a Chicago non-profit organization that provides free health education and social services to men. “We want to help men with their physical, mental, emotional and health needs.” He added that since its founding in 1997, Project Brotherhood has seen over 13,000 men walk through its doors and on average attracts 35 new men to the organization each week. Its meetings are held from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. every Thursday at the Woodlawn Health Center, 6337 S. Woodlawn Ave. And among the things the organization provides are physical exams, primary care and illness management and mentor training. Refreshments are served at the meetings and men of all ages are welcome, including teenagers. The meetings consist of men gathering to discuss whatever is on their mind. During these discussions members of Project Brotherhood incorporate health education. But one attention grabber for the organization is an on-site barber who provides up to 17 free haircuts a week, no strings attached. “We do not require that you participate in Project Brotherhood to get a free haircut although we encourage men to take advantage of the resources available,” Murray told the Defender. “The goal is to get men inside the health center and once we do that then we can begin to present them with our resources.” And while all men are welcome, Black men are the organization’s target, said Craig Spivey, director of social services for the organization. Its slogan is A Black Men’s Clinic. “Like so many barbershops, men lower their guards and talk freely about their problems or whatever is on their mind,” Spivey said. “We want to create the same free spirit atmosphere here for men. We have photos of men rather than women like most doctors’ offices because we want men to feel secure enough to open up and talk about whatever is going on with them.” In fact, the one barber the organization uses has completed social services training with the organization so he too can provide counseling to men on such topics as HIV/AIDS. The organization is under the Cook County Health and Hospitals System, which provides free office space, volunteers and other in-kind services, according to Murray. “Our funding consists of state grants but … we wouldn’t be around without the in-kind services of the county,” said Murray, who has been with the organization since its inception. “Project Brotherhood is deeper than just getting your blood pressure checked. We can arrange for follow up care with doctors and provide referrals and assistance on almost anything from homelessness to family issues like divorce and child support.” Steve Hughes, planning director for Project Brotherhood, described the organization as a group of Black men helping men. “Black men helping Black men is a concept we believe in at Project Brotherhood,” he added. On March 18 Project Brotherhood and the American Cancer Society will host a college basketball viewing party for men at the health center from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. It is the start of NCAA’s March Madness.”
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