Program encourages children to read more

Chatorie Owens used to sit and watch in boredom when her brothers were getting haircuts. But in May, things changed.

Her brothers get their haircuts at Precision Pro Style Barbershop, owned by DJuan Patrick. Although to some it may be a simple barbershop, it’s become a place 10-year-old Chatorie eagerly waits to go.

Patrick’s shop is part of the “Books in Barbershops” program, which allows elementary-age students to visit participating barbershops, choose a book and read it while waiting for or receiving their haircut.

“Reading books is my favorite thing to do when I am bored,” Chatorie said. “I used to go over there and be really, really bored. But now, instead of being bored, I have something to do.”

The initiative is a partnership between My Brother’s Keeper, an organization focused on improving outcomes for boys and young men of color, and Reading Partners, a Tulsa non profit that helps kids improve their reading skills.

Books in Barbershops aims to encourage Tulsa students in pre-K through third grade to read by providing them with engaging books and incentives in their neighborhood barbershops. Each kid who reads eight books or more will be eligible to enter raffle drawings every two months, incentivizing reading and reinforcing the importance of education.

Raffle prizes include free haircuts, free sneakers and a television.

So far, Patrick’s barbershop and McLain Barbershop are the only participants in the program.

“It means a lot to me to see the kids getting into the books not only for the prizes but because they are actually enjoying the books,” Patrick said. “(Chatorie and her brothers) come here, sit down, pick a book without anyone having to tell them. It’s awesome.”

Before the program’s idea reached the barbershops, My Brother’s Keeper and Reading Partners were trying to find solutions to help children improve their literacy levels. Ber Thaddaeus Bailey, managing director of My Brother’s Keeper Tulsa, said a data team established earlier that the reading proficiency rate among boys of color in the third grade in Tulsa County is 18%. Bailey and his team knew they needed to do something to change that.

Once the partnership started, the groups knew they couldn’t just pick any spots or any books. It had to mean something.

“We wanted to make sure they were culturally relevant books of color,” Bailey said. “Barbershops are places where barbers serve as mentors to young boys. They should incentivize these young boys.”

Bailey said that since the program started, it has become noticeable how young boys are growing in their development and love for literacy. Mason Owens, 10, Chatorie’s brother, agrees with that. When he saw the books by the window for the first time, he ran inside, excited to find out what they were. Since then, he has read dozens of books while getting his hair cut and does not plan to stop.

“I love turning the pages, hearing the flipping sound,” Mason said. “I learned a lot from them.”

The flow of children going in and out of Patrick’s shop made it perfect for the project. Patrick said barbershops play a huge part in the lives of young children of color and that his goal is to be a safe space where they can come in and feel comfortable while also learning.

Bailey said the goal is to find more barbershops interested in participating and continue to encourage young children to read.

“We see this as an initiative that will continue for years to come,” Bailey said. These two barbershops are really our pilot, and then we’ll expand those barbershops and use the research and data from this first year. All of us have a part to do and a role in the community.”