Steven M. Brown
Founding member | Neighborhood Barbers for Peace
In 2017, the Center launched Neighborhood Barbers for Peace through a grant from the Fund for Safe & Peaceful Communities. One of the first barbers to sign up to be part of the outreach and education initiative was Steven Brown. At the time, he was head of administration and sales for Chazap Inc. Barber Products and Co-Founder of Chazap Inc. Barber College but Steve was no stranger to the Center’s mission. His mom, Frances Brown, was a founding staff member and worked for the agency until her recent retirement. In this interview, Steve shares more about his career journey and what inspired him to get involved.
Tell us a little bit about yourself (e.g. where you grew up, your family, etc.).
I grew up in Chicago and attended Catholic school at Holy Angels along with my younger brother and sister. For high school, I started at De La Salle in Bronzeville but then our family moved and I transferred to Phillips High School and then to Hirsch in Greater Grand Crossing. After graduation, I decided to go into the Navy, which gave me the opportunity to travel around the world. I served a total of 11 years assigned to Nuclear Submarines, including 8 years of sea time under water. When I returned home to the South Side of Chicago in 1999, I noticed a lot of changes for the negative and wanted to do something positive in the community.
What led you to become a barber?
It was really a walk of faith. The late Mayor Harold Washington’s barber, William “Bunny” Brown is who influenced me to become a barber. He taught me a lot about the history of barbering, which has been around since the beginning of civilization, and especially its connection to African American history. He convinced me to study barbering at Cain’s Barber College which is where I met a teacher named William “Chappy” Daurham who later founded Chazap Barber College. I helped him open up Chazap, serving as the registrar/accreditation specialist, and also marketed his well-known hair care product line while completing my studies to become a licensed barber. When Chap passed away in 2018, Chazap merged with Networks Barber College where I am working to carry on his legacy as a barber teacher and business manager for the post-secondary institution.
What inspired you to become involved with Neighborhood Barbers for Peace?
When I was a little kid, I used to read my mom’s books about criminal justice and domestic violence. She would also share stories from her work at the Center and tell us about how making better decisions would lead to better outcomes. As I was growing up, I kept these scenarios in my head, which helped me avoid a lot of the situations she would talk about. So, when she told me about the idea of having barbers talk with their customers about domestic violence, I definitely wanted to be involved.
Why do you think barbers have a role to play in helping to end domestic violence?
The curriculum manual we use in barber school talks about how to deescalate highly volatile situations so people feel safe coming to a barbershop. Plus, we already hear about a lot of personal issues going on in our clients’ lives. They come to us to let their hair down, so to speak, and they are often looking for constructive feedback from someone outside their immediate circle. Barbers do more than just cut hair, and if we can connect clients with resources like those the Center provides, I think we can make a huge impact in ending domestic violence.
What have you found most rewarding about volunteering with the Center and Neighborhood Barbers for Peace? Are there any special moments that stand out for you?
During Domestic Violence Awareness Month last year, I had the chance to go on Windy City LIVE with some of the Center’s staff and a graduate of their program. This was a great opportunity to promote our message and share the resources that Neighborhood Barbers for Peace has to offer. Because I live in the community and have been in the military, I think people are more open to what I have to say, and I got a lot of positive feedback from those who saw me on the show.
What is your vision for Neighborhood Barbers for Peace in the future?
Many of the adult students at the barber college where I teach are dealing with domestic violence and are limited in their options in terms of resources to address these issues. I see how it can prevent them from achieving their lasting goals, so I hope we can connect more barber students with tools and professionals that can help. I would also like to get more licensed barbers involved in displaying literature at their shops and continue the training seminars we have done. These have been very effective in giving the guys a different perspective on what they think are the norms and how if you want successful relationships, you may have to change some of your behaviors. Additionally, we are also looking at new ways to spread our message such as a mural project to highlight how barbers are helping to create safer communities.