Bradley University students are teaming up with community groups to help bring down Peoria’s high rates of sexually-transmitted-infections and teen births. One business is also playing a unique role in the effort:
There were haircuts being offered last night at the First United Methodist Church in Peoria.
The service was offered to residents who got screened for STIs during the "Shape Your City" event. Brandon Johnson was one of three Bradley University public relations students who put on the event along with the Central Illinois FRIENDS group. Johnson says barbers from Headz Up Barbershop were trained to talk with their clients about raising awareness, prevention and treatment help to tackle Peoria's high rate of STIs and teen pregnancy:
“You trust them in your haircut, you don’t want to go around not looking good. So you really trust the barber and you have that relationship, so we wanted to play on that relationship in a way to reach our demographic in a very interesting and a different way.”
'Headz Up' barber Ronald Wyatt says cutting someone's hair is a good opportunity to pass along health information:
“A lot of times when they do have difficult situations in their lives they look to us to listen, and try to give good advice. So, this would be a part of it.”
Residents could get a free haircut last night if they got screened for STI’s. Wyatt says information for prevention and treatment of sexual health conditions is also available for clients at their barbershop on Knoxville Avenue.