Six years ago, while sitting at the barbershop, C.J. Carter of Louisville had an idea.
“The former youth services coordinator of Newberg Middle School was a patron of our barber shop, and me and him started having a conversation of how cool it would be to have a barbershop in the school,” Mr. Carter said on Monday.
Now, Carter’s dream is a reality inside two of Kentucky’s schools, as the barbershop at Tates Creek Middle School is open for business.
“This is amazing. Other schools don’t have this, but we do,” said student Eli Hamilton after being the very first “customer.”
For Carter and barber Nicolas Petitfrere, this is about much more than a haircut, and that’s why Tates Creek officials and district leadership jumped at the opportunity.
“This is an opportunity to mentor young men and touch them in a place like this, a barbershop, which is a safe space,” Carter said.
Carter talked about his barbershop in Louisville being in one of the more dangerous parts of the city, which made a visit to the barbershop an escape of sorts. Kids, even in low-crime areas, can also use that type of escape and camaraderie.