Barbershop Opens inside MLK Academy

Through a partnership with Louisville-based Sharp Futures, our district has opened a third school-based barbershop designed to promote students’ well-being and community engagement. Students at Martin Luther King Jr. Academy can now receive free grooming services on Mondays courtesy of a local professional from The Porch Barbershop. 

“This is one of those wrap-around services that helps a student build self-confidence and pride in themselves,” said Principal David Moore. “When you feel good, you learn better and perform at a higher level.” 

The program, which supports positive school culture, is also operating at Tates Creek and Winburn middle schools. 

C.J. Carter, the founder and executive director of Sharp Futures, joined Moore at MLK early Monday as they cut the ribbon to officially open the converted office space off the school library. A deejay was also in the house for the celebration. The room, which already had a sink, now features a barber chair and a large mirror with a shelf to hold tools, along with extra lighting. Students named it “Kings & Talons Barbershop.” (MLK’s mascot is the eagle.)

The shop’s services won’t be just about haircuts, though; this is a great opportunity for one-on-one mentoring. The participating barbers have already received training in social-emotional learning from staff in Fayette County Public Schools. 

“It’s a means of connecting with this younger generation,” Carter said. “The barbershop is all about relationships and conversation.”