Community Highlights: Meet Jimmy Evans of The Barbershop Therapy Foundation

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jimmy Evans

Hi Jimmy, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m Jimmy Evans, founder and CEO of The Barbershop Therapy Foundation. For over 30 years, I’ve worked as a barber and barbershop owner, which means I connect with a community of barbers and we serve as confidant, counselor, and friend to countless men and women from every walk of life. A barber’s chair is unique—it’s more than a seat. It’s a space where people feel safe to open up, to share their stories, fears, and triumphs. Over the years, I’ve been honored to know some clients more deeply than even their closest family members might. These relationships, this safe space, is what The Barbershop Therapy Foundation is built on.
We are dedicated to transforming mental health in historically marginalized communities. By using barbershops as trusted spaces, we train barbers to become mental health advocates, turning everyday conversations into opportunities for support and awareness. Our unique haircut voucher program incentivizes participation, providing both parents and children with essential mental health resources.

Through community engagement and partnerships, we aim to de-stigmatize mental health assistance and create lasting positive change. Our motto, “We Cut Through The Problems,” reflects our mission to address mental health challenges head-on, leveraging the power of barbershops to make a significant impact.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
One of the biggest struggles has been addressing the stigma around mental health in the communities we serve. Many people, particularly men in Black and minority communities, often see vulnerability as a weakness. Educating and encouraging them to see mental health as just as important as physical health has required persistence, creativity, and genuine connection.

Another challenge has been navigating the nonprofit world itself. As a founder, wearing multiple hats—fundraiser, strategist, advocate—while balancing the operational needs of both the foundation and my business, Headquarters Barbershop, can be overwhelming. Securing funding to sustain our mission has been particularly tough, especially early on. Convincing potential donors and partners of the value in blending barbershop culture with therapy required me to constantly articulate our vision and prove our impact.

Finally, maintaining the trust and authenticity that our community deserves has been a priority and, at times, a struggle. The work we do is deeply personal, and people need to feel safe in the spaces we create. Ensuring that our team, services, and programming consistently meet those high standards has been a learning curve.

Despite these challenges, I’ve found that every setback has presented an opportunity to innovate and grow. The struggles have taught me resilience and reaffirmed my belief in our mission. Seeing the lives we’ve touched and the conversations we’ve started makes every hurdle worth it.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
As the CEO and founder of The Barbershop Therapy Foundation, and with over 30 years of experience as a professional barber, I’ve had the privilege of building relationships that extend far beyond a haircut. In the barber’s chair, people often feel comfortable opening up about their lives—the good, the bad, and everything in between. Over the years, I’ve realized that barbershops aren’t just places for grooming; they’re sanctuaries for connection, support, and healing. That realization inspired the creation of The Barbershop Therapy Foundation.

Our mission is to turn barbershops into safe spaces for mental health advocacy, emotional support, and positive communication, especially between fathers and sons. I’ve seen firsthand how powerful these conversations can be. Whether it’s helping a father and son learn to express themselves more constructively or guiding someone through tough life decisions, we’re about fostering relationships that empower families and uplift communities.

We specialize in integrating mental health support into the barbershop experience. Through partnerships with licensed therapists and community organizations, we host workshops, provide resources, and create opportunities for dialogue. What sets us apart is the authenticity of our approach. People trust their barber, and we use that trust to bridge the gap between everyday life and the professional help many might otherwise avoid seeking.

Brand-wise, I’m most proud of the impact we’ve had in normalizing conversations around mental health in spaces that are culturally significant and familiar. Our work has helped break generational cycles of silence, encouraging men to open up and see vulnerability as strength.

What I want readers to know is that The Barbershop Therapy Foundation is more than a nonprofit—it’s a movement. It’s about building stronger families and communities by addressing mental health where people already feel at home. Whether you’re a father, son, or simply someone looking for support, we’re here to create a positive space for growth and connection. Through our services and programming, we aim to prove that barbershops can be much more than grooming hubs; they can be places where healing begins.

Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
The COVID-19 pandemic brought an unprecedented mental health crisis that affected everyone—families, relationships, children, and parents. In the barbershop, these challenges became an undeniable part of our daily conversations. As a barber with 30 years of experience, I saw how the pandemic magnified stress, anxiety, and isolation within our communities. It became clear that the barbershop wasn’t just a place for grooming during that time—it was a critical space for emotional relief and connection.

Families were under immense pressure, especially as parents navigated the dual roles of working from home and becoming full-time educators to their children. Relationships were strained as couples faced the uncertainties of job losses, health concerns, and being confined together for extended periods. For children, the sudden shift to remote learning and the absence of social interaction led to heightened anxiety and, in many cases, depression.

At the barbershop, we talked about these struggles openly. Fathers shared their fears about providing for their families, and sons expressed frustration over missing milestones like prom or graduation. Mothers who visited with their kids spoke about the challenges of managing their children’s mental health while struggling with their own. These weren’t just small talk conversations—they were raw, real, and necessary.

The biggest lesson I learned during that difficult time is the importance of community. The barbershop became a lifeline for many—a place where people could unload their worries, get advice, or simply hear, “You’re not alone.” I realized how much power there is in just listening. Sometimes, all someone needed was to feel heard.

Another lesson was the value of adaptability. The pandemic taught us to embrace technology, even in a space as traditional as a barbershop. We began sharing mental health resources virtually and connecting clients with professionals who could help. It also showed us the need to formalize these conversations through initiatives like The Barbershop Therapy Foundation.

COVID-19 was a wake-up call for many of us about the fragility of mental health. It deepened our understanding of how vital it is to address emotional well-being proactively. Moving forward, the lessons from that time remind us that the barbershop isn’t just a place for haircuts—it’s a cornerstone for connection, healing, and resilience.

Pricing:

• Hair Voucher Program $30 mo. to sponsor a hair cut for a child in NC public school system.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://barbershop-therapy.org/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@barbershoptherapy2331
• Other: linktr.ee/jveans23