Milwaukee Looks To Boost Literacy One Haircut At A Time

Darrion Nelson got more than a haircut at Chicago Cutz on Milwaukee’s north side Wednesday. The 8-year-old received a brand new book through a new Milwaukee effort called Books in Barbershops aimed at boosting literacy among the city’s youth and closing its achievement gap.

“‘Captain Awesome,’ it’s about a soccer thing,” Darrion, explaining what his new book was about.

As part of the program, Chicago Cutz received a custom built bookshelf stocked with books younger customers can read or take home through the program.

Chicago Cutz Owner Ronald Bell was also giving free haircuts and school supplies so children were ready for the first day of school.

“We want to make sure all the kids are very confident on their first day of school,” Bell said. “We want everyone to look their best and make sure they have all the supplies needed so they can have a great day at school.

Chicago Cutz is one of two Milwaukee shops looking to get the educational program off the ground. New York City has a similar program.

“The Books for Barbershops program, this is the first of many educational programs we want to bring to the community,” Bell said.

Darrion said he already likes reading.

“It helps me learn,” he said.

City officials said the program is an effort to foster that interest in, and love of, reading in more kids such as Darrion — young African-American boys living in Milwaukee. And the city is looking for more shops to join the effort.

“Wisconsin’s been home to the largest achievement gap between students of color and white students in the nation, so we want to work to close that gap, and a way to do that is to meet the community where they are,” said Milwaukee Councilman Cavalier Johnson.

Children can read the books in the barbershops or take them home to keep.