How a Haircut Could
Help Save Detroit’s Future
By Jerome Espy of Nfinit
Communications
On just about any given Tuesday in Northwest Detroit,
there's a whole lot more going on in one barbershop than the typical haircut.
Jay's Fades, while handling what you would expect, the occasional shaves and
coif adjustments, is also the base for a volunteer program. The Better Detroit
Youth Movement (BDYM) is students of nearly all ages working together to
improve the quality of life and learning for Detroit youth.
In a nondescript storefront on Livernois between Six and
Seven Mile roads, dozens of positive young people gather to discuss, go through
problem-solving exercises and hear how they can do more with their lives, as
well as give back more to the community in tangible ways.
The BDYM organizers run a tight ship. Each meeting begins
with everyone in the room introducing themselves with a 30-second
"elevator pitch." The goal here as co-director Harlan “Jay” Bivens
puts it is to, "Build confidence so the young people are not shy when they
have an opportunity to explain who they are and what they want from
someone." A stopwatch is running on
each attendee and when time is up, time is up. This format keeps anyone from
getting long-winded.
Later, with consensus from the group, there's a chance for a
two minute pitch on a particular idea or “ask” for assistance of the group,
followed by a one-minute Q&A session.
Mercedes Clausen attended a meeting recently after hearing
Jay talk about the BDYM on the radio. Her pitch was for #HashtagLunchbag. The event, founded in California (coming to
Detroit August 11) and effort looks to deliver a hearty and balanced meal to
the local homeless. "This gives me a chance to get the word out and get
some help for what we're bringing to the city."
One of the exercises the youth participated in was breaking
up into small groups of four or five and given a problem to solve. They were
thrown into an imaginary scenario and asked to work together to come up with a
solution. The group is stranded on a life raft following a plane crash. The
twist in the scenario is that all of the survivors couldn’t fit on the
potentially life-saving craft. Taking all sorts of factors into consideration,
they had to decide which of them would be left off of the boat.
During another session, co-director William Pointer, went
through the logistics of a proper handshake. It seems elementary, but many
young people, and adults for that matter, don't know the mechanics of something
we all do nearly every day.
Bivens is the owner of Jay’s Fades and a community
activist/supporter. “What we are doing
here is more than just a salon, it's a movement to make the City of Detroit
better. This is more of a community engagement center than anything else.”
Similar movements are changing lives in Greater California,
Pontiac and Maryland. Each of the efforts across the country shares the goal of
empowering young people to action.
Kenneth Morrison is co-Director of "Do More
Initiative" in Baltimore, the youth movement group in that city. He and a
group of ten young people between 15 and 19 years old from Maryland visited
BDYM recently. They were on what they call an "Art Injustice Tour" to
five cities this summer. Their project, along with Better Baltimore Youth
Movement looks at how art and community can impact social change.
"We love Detroit and what BDYM is doing. This gives our
young people (who are all performance artists) a chance to fill their passion.
Although there are many miles between Detroit and Baltimore, we see the same
faces and same social challenges facing both cities."
Morrison says they are working with Jay to bring the
"Do More Initiative" to Detroit sometime soon. In return, Jay is
helping the Baltimore group implement some of the successes BDYM has
experienced.
Recently, BDYM held a team building/fund raiser at Painting
with a Twist in Ferndale. The group gets very creative in expanding the
horizons of supports and the increasingly engaged young people.
Detroit high school student Erica made a pitch at a recent
meeting for her Makeover Challenge. The goal of her effort is to teach young
people how to dress for success and develop confidence. “This is a chance for
me to learn and get support for something I believe in,” she told the group.
She stood, flat-foooted and made her appeal flawlessly, as well as answering
some pretty tough questions from the crowd.
Another student talked about a grassroots effort to reopen
Highland Park’s MacGregor Library. The sessions provide valuable feedback,
guidance and support for the projects.
In addition to the barbershop gatherings, BDYM is involved
in several other initiatives, including one called F.A.M.E. (Fashion, Art,
Music & Education). This program
uses the power and beauty of the arts to rally the community and engage
children in productive, positive activities. F.A.M.E. is being developed as an
after-school program for Detroit high school students.
Anyone with a little time, talent or treasure to share, BDYM
could use a helping hand. Either visit their Facebook page, their website at
www.betterdetroityouth.org or call
248.961.6419.
Founder Bivens sees promise in the next generation of
Detroiters as he works with the various BDYM projects and speaks in front of
groups near and far. “Working together today, we can build brighter futures for
our young generation.”
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