| As an elementary school teacher, Jasmine Mix ’04, always knew how important it was for students to maintain consistent reading habits during the summer months when a stream of instruction is slim to none in most households. It’s exactly the reason why she started the nonprofit, Books with Barbers.
Currently located in 139 barbershops, across eight states, Books with Barbers has expanded beyond any of Mix’s expectations.
The premise behind the organization is simple – to put books in a place where males have access to them. That’s all I wanted to do,” said Mix. “Let their hands touch the books and provide access.” Those were the things that Mix believed separated the students that excelled and those that didn’t.
“No matter where I taught I began seeing the same trend. African American boys were traditionally struggling more than their average peers in reading and literacy and all the fundamentals,” said Mix. “I even began to see where our females were actually outrunning the males when it came to fluency and comprehension. Males were falling behind.”
“One summer I decided to do something about it.”
Mix spent countless hours trying to figure out exactly what that “something” would be. None of her ideas seemed to be doable or even good enough. Following a conversation with a friend, an “aha” moment struck and the consensus was getting books into neighborhood barbershops would be the perfect solution.
She reasoned placing books in barbershops would be simple. The community would be ecstatic. However, the barbers weren’t as enthused as she was. Unfortunately, they simply didn’t trust that all she truly wanted to do was give them books for boys to read and enjoy.
“I’m a mom of three girls. I don’t do barbershops. There I was in 6-inch heels, dresses and skirts like a door-to-door salesman walking into a man’s world telling them I want to put books in your barbershop,” said Mix. “In the summer of 2014 I went to nine barbershops. All of them said no and wanted no parts of it. They wanted to know what did they have to do or pay.”
Eventually, Mix caught the attention of a barbershop owner in Columbia, South Carolina, who agreed to the venture. Soon after, she did a total social media blitz, everything from Facebook to Twitter to Instagram. Admittedly, Mix said she didn’t even know anything about Twitter. Ironically, the mayor of Columbia caught wind of Books with Barbers on Twitter, contacted her and expressed his extreme interest in partnering in some manner.
According to Mix, everything has literally skyrocketed from that point.
“We now have multiple partnerships. So, it’s been really incredible,” she said. Everyone from national healthcare companies to the City of Columbia, Charlotte Chamber of Commerce and even national school and public library systems including “Every Library,” which helped connect her with other library systems.
The response has been more than overwhelming and exciting for Mix as well as the barbers and boys.
“It’s changing the whole dynamics of the barbershop,” she said. “Kids love it. And what we are seeing is TVs are being cut off, especially during the week. And you don’t hear barbers talking as much of their adult conversation. You hear them asking the kids about what they read and their favorite parts.”
“Barbers are now playing the role of educator and young clients can admire them. The boys are totally engaged and loving it.”
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