#ParkHillTalks - House of Hair Barbershop - Part 3

Community Voice

Mar 19

#ParkHillTalks are small, conversational community meetings to cultivate change through the sharing of personal stories, recognition of shared interests, leadership, and organizing for action.

Overview

We host #ParkHillTalks in places that people feel comfortable to share their experiences and stories. These are often places that people already congregate regularly.

In a barbershop, conversations occur about community. It’s a place that people return to on a regular basis to not only freshen their appearance, but also to develop friendships, talk about what’s impacting their lives, and ultimately building community.

#ParkHillTalks have unofficially been occurring in places like House of Hair Barbershop for as long as the neighborhood has existed. Bringing the structure of community organizing to the barbershop helps provide the platform to turn the conversations to action.

March 19, 2019

10 attendees
Key topics
- Education
  - Opening schools to the community again - Community involvement
  - School choice
  - Quality of education
  - Accountability when students are displaced
- Community Health
  - Mental health at schools
  - Social-emotional support after trauma
- Juvenile Justice
  - Concern about Community Resource Officer presence over social workers
Outcomes
- Attendees agreed to continue to organize for the next meeting.