News

In between the buzz of his clippers, barber Kelvin Hardy listens and offers bits of advice to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Charter High School (CHS) students. 

Hardy returned to the CHS for the third year in a row to offer free haircuts, as part of Black Heritage Month events at the school. This year, Hardy trimmed a total of 25 heads from Monday-Tuesday, Feb. 24-25. 

“I love cutting hair, and I like cutting young people’s hair,” said Hardy, who works at Luxury Looks Barber and Beauty in Fairview Heights. “I like to see the look on the students’ faces.” 

CHS senior Dwayne Stennis sits in the barber’s chair, chatting with Hardy about his plans for after high school. 

“That sounds good, man,” said Hardy. “You’ve got to keep up your grades and continue doing what’s right.” 

Stennis smiles at the conclusion of his haircut, and thanks Hardy for a job well done. 

“I talk to the students and try to give them good advice about life,” said the husband, and father of four. “I want to keep them on the right path. I also talk about some of the challenges I’ve been through.” 

Hardy also counsels his “customers” on the importance of being humble and fervent in their pursuits. “I tell them that whatever they decide to, they should have a passion for it, and not just do it for the money,” he said. 

“It’s important for our students to come into contact with good black male role models, and there are so many,” said Wendy Brown, president of the CHS Parent-Teacher Association. “The barbershop has been a good place for community sharing and building for African Americans over the years. We wanted to provide some of that for our students and offer free haircuts!” Brown and Edith Laktzian, CHS resource teacher, coordinated the event for boys and girls. 

“The students love this activity, and it has grown each year,” said CHS Director Gina Jeffries, EdD. 

The SIUE Charter High School is a school-of-choice for families in the East St. Louis School District 189. The mission of the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Charter High School is to prepare students who are career- and college-ready upon graduation. To achieve this mission, the school and its staff will positively impact the educational and economic lives of East St. Louis, Illinois youth through individualized instruction in core academic subjects, exploration of career interests and aptitudes, assistance in realizing students’ talents, high academic goals, and expectations that graduates will become competitive employees for the 21st century. 

Photo:
Kelvin Hardy, Fairview Heights barber, trims the hair of CHS senior Dwayne Stennis.