One Barber’s Mission to Equip Students for Success
Michael R Hooks
Growing up in a single-parent home on welfare, Michael R. Hooks vividly remembers the struggles of going to school without the basic supplies and resources he needed. “As a young kid, I can remember vividly not having the things I needed to start the school year,” Hooks recalls.
These impactful childhood experiences drove Hooks, now a successful business owner, to start giving free haircuts to students 14 years ago before the first day of school. What started as a simple gesture quickly expanded into an annual community-wide Family Resource Fair, providing everything from backpacks and school supplies to free medical screenings and health education.
“When you’re young, you’re vulnerable, and if there’s no one there to care for you, anything could happen to you,” says Hooks. “But if you can come along and give those kids — those people — a hand, a new way of looking at life, a better understanding — ultimately that’s what I believe (in).”
This year, Hooks’ 14th annual Back-to-School Free Haircut Day and 3rd Family Resource Fair aim to equip over 1,000 participants with the tools they need to succeed. From affordable healthcare guidance to urban farming lessons, Hooks is leveraging his personal story to transform his community one student at a time.
“We don’t ask for parents who don’t work or parents that use drugs — as a kid, we don’t ask for those things, but as a kid there’s nothing we can do about them,” Hooks reflects. “But if you can come along and give those kids — those people — a hand, a new way of looking at life, a better understanding — ultimately that’s what I believe (in).”
