(EVANSVILLE, IN) – The Indiana Commission on the Social Status of Black Males (ICSSBM) will host the Annual Indiana Black Barbershop Health Initiative this Saturday from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
This statewide initiative, hosted locally by the Evansville Commission on the Social Status of African American Males in conjunction with other community partners, will offer free health screenings and education. The initiative seeks to enlighten African American men on how to understand chronic diseases through screening and education.
Jeremi Taylor, Chairperson of the Evansville Commission on the Social Status of African American Males, invites the community to come out and participate. “Black barbershops serve as a therapy center and place of healing for Black men that show up every few weeks. The foundation of a relationship between Black men and their barbers is built on trust. If barbers trust medical professionals to conduct screenings in their shops, Black men are more likely to trust them and seek annual preventative medical advice and care”.
It has been more than a decade since we began this journey of reaching out to Black men in barbershops to promote positive health outcomes through healthy diets, exercise, and regular doctor visits. We believe that this initiative has been beneficial, and we thank all the barbershops for opening their doors year after year and providing their patrons with this opportunity, Taylor said.
On Saturday, April 6, free screenings, and giveaways will be provided from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the following barbershops:
Fila’s Designs
1010 S. Kentucky Avenue Evansville, IN 47714
Jerald’s Barbershop
1337 E. Walnut St.Evansville, IN 47714
The Dapper Man’s Parlor 2014 E. Morgan Ave.Evansville, IN 47711
Lynch’s House of Coiffure
555 S. Kentucky Avenue Evansville, IN 47713
Going Forward Barber & Beauty Shop 1015 E. Riverside Drive Evansville, IN 47714
Super Fresh 1101 Lincoln Avenue Evansville, IN 47714
Chinnos 2417 Washington Avenue Evansville, IN 47714
Recent figures from the Indiana Department of Health show African American men have the highest mortality rate of any group in Indiana. African American men also suffer from prostate cancer at a higher level in Indiana than any other racial or ethnic group.
Local partners include the City of Evansville and the Evansville Commission on the Social Status of African-American Males, Deaconess Health System, Vanderburgh County Health Department,
Black Nurses of Evansville, Evansville Chapter of the NAACP, Red Cross of Southwest Indiana,
Community Action Program of Evansville (Minority Health Initiative), Ivy Tech Community College, Evansville Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Echo Community Health Care, WEOA Radio (98.5) and Carver Community Organization. To learn more about the health outreach effort, and to view a complete list of the barbershops involved, please go to https://ibbhi.com.
