Barbershops aim to boost kids’ literacy

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

BRIDGE

Video

BRIDGE, Barbershop Reading Initiative Developing Growth in Education, kicked off Thursday when Youngstown City School District CEO Krish Mohip took his son, Noah, 6, to The Starting Lineup, 47 Federal Plaza Central, to read and to get his hair cut. Beginning Monday and continuing through Aug. 28, a reading event will be scheduled at each of the barber shop sites. Young clients will have the opportunity to earn incentives and prizes, even free hair cuts, for reading books.

Several Youngstown area barber- shops are part of a national effort aimed at promoting children’s literacy, BRIDGE – Barbershop Reading Initiative Developing Growth in Education.

Beginning Monday and continuing through Aug. 28, a reading event will be scheduled at each of the barbershop sites. Young clients will have the opportunity to earn incentives and prizes, even free hair cuts, for reading books.

Excalibur Barber Grooming Lounge inside Southern Park Mall is the first site Monday. But to kick off the initiative, Youngstown City School District CEO Krish Mohip took his son, Noah, 6, to The Starting Lineup, 47 Federal Plaza Central, to read and to get his hair cut Thursday.

“We can’t emphasize enough the importance of reading,” Mohip said. “I’m grateful that so many barbershop owners are getting involved to stress that too. It helps when students know that their learning is not only supported in school but in the community as well.”

Kelan Bilal, owner of Excalibur, said it’s important that children are reading on-level by third-grade because research shows that many who are not, end up dropping out of school and not graduating from high school.

Also participating: In the Cut Barber Shop, 196 McCartney Road, Campbell; Ryan’s Chair, 2935 Glenwood Ave.; Kingdom Cuts, 3621 South Ave.; Legends, 1546 Belmont Ave.; G’s Chop Shop, 719 Canfield Road; The Dapper Male/Cre8ive Kuts, 4065 Hillman Way; Upper Class Cuts, 115 E. Rayen Ave.; Walt’s Update, 1730 Oak St.; and Underground Cutz, 2231 Mahoning Ave.

The Leadership Council of the City of Youth is hosting a book drive in support of the BRIDGE initiative. Those interested may drop off new or nearly new children’s books at any of the participating barbershops.