Englewood barbershop offers free back-to-school cuts with side of advice

CHICAGO (WLS) -- The week before the start of school is always a rush; get those supplies, go clothes shopping, get a haircut. Powell's Barbershop in Chicago's Englewood neighborhood is offering a fresh cut for students free of charge, but the new 'dos come with a side of serous life advice.

The celebration - which included free haircuts, school supplies, food and face painting in the heart of Englewood - was meant to encourage young people to feel good about going back to school.

"I think I should be looking good when I go back soon," said student D'Marion Price.

But the real heart of the event was a positive message about the community.

"It's very important to make sure that our community knows that we do care about our children and we care about their wellbeing," said barber Dorenda Clink.

"It's a lot of negativity out here, but that's like 1 percent of the people. There are 80 to 90 percent going to school, work, doing what they supposed to do and the kids out here surviving in the midst of a war zone," said Sunni Ali Powell, owner of Powell's Barbershop.

Former Governor Pat Quinn's family grew up just blocks away.

"All of us are in this together. My mom and dad were both raised in Englewood on the south side of Chicago and it's important that all of us, wherever we live in Illinois, come together and help people on the south side, the west side and every side fight violence and help kids grow up the right way," Quinn said.

The bottom line: Look good, feel good and then do some good right there in your own neighborhood.

"We want to make sure that they understand that they are bright stars, that they can make a difference, that they are fabulous," said Rosazlia Griller, mother and Englewood resident.

The barbers at Powell's have been providing the free back-to-school haircuts for the past few weeks all over the community. They said it's a way of giving back and providing positive role models for youngsters, encouraging them to do the right thing.