BLOOMINGTON, Ill. 鈥� A program benefiting child literacy on Bloomington鈥檚 west side was recently revitalized through efforts from members of the 91黑料专区 University community.  

The West Bloomington Revitalization Project (WBRP) created the Barbers with Books program in 2019, offering young readers the chance to read a book in the barbershop chair while receiving a free haircut. The original idea was led and launched by alumna Mary Yount '83 and retired IWU librarian Karen Schmidt, who manages the WBRP Book Bike at Bloomington events.

鈥淩esearch consistently tells us that if children are not reading well by the third or fourth grade, it can affect the trajectory of their education and economic potential as they grow up and become adults,鈥� said Schmidt, pointing out that 68% of fourth graders are reading below proficiency levels in America, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation. 

Several local barbershops and salons participated in Barbers with Books when it was first launched, but arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic created logistical problems and it was put on hold until this year.

Cassius Crittendon with BN Barber College sign
Owner of the Bloomington-Normal Barber College, Cassius Crittendon, partnered with the West Bloomington Revitalization Project and IWU to relaunch the local Barbers with Books program.

WBRP teamed up with the owner of Bloomington-Normal Barber College, Cassius Crittendon, and IWU鈥檚 Action Research Center seminar led by Deborah Halperin to revive the program. Halperin describes the course as a project-based experience in partnership between IWU and WBRP. Students design and implement a mission-driven project that benefits the neighborhoods on Bloomington鈥檚 west side.

鈥淭he purpose of the seminar is to give students a chance to do something in the community. They get to be creative and resourceful and feel they are a part of something meaningful. The Action Research Center has been fortunate to launch numerous community initiatives over the last 20 years<