Share and Follow
Authored by: Derrick Mitchell
Published:
Last Updated:
CHAMPAIGN (WCIA) — Schools nationwide are marking an important occasion: National African American Parent Involvement Day. Among the places observing this event are schools in the Champaign-Urbana area.
In a unique gesture of support, two men visited Stratton Elementary in Champaign on Monday, offering haircuts to the students. This act was part of a larger effort to engage with and uplift local youth.
The event is called “Motivational Speaking and Free Haircuts.” It gives students more confidence through how they look and how they feel on the inside. Organizer Antonio Odom said cutting kids’ hair is not the main focus; it’s about supporting the next generation.
“There’s a pivotal generation right now because we’ve got a lot of stuff going on, [like] the exposure of kids with violence and stuff like that in Champaign. That’s why I’m a violence preventionist, a lot of this is about prevention,” Odom said.
Odom said his Champaign-based shop is open to anyone who wants to talk, or any kid who wants a free haircut. If you’re an educator who wants to bring this to your school, he says you can reach out and if your child is in need of a haircut in general, he said he wants to continue to help the community. Odom can be reached through email at antonio.odom@acclivusinc.org.