Black Barber Appreciation

Honoring Springfield’s black barbershops with music and speakers!

Guest speaker: Dr. Anthony Hill, Springfield College
Entertainment: The Prodigal Sonz

Clarence Smith, owner of the Final Touch Barber Shop said, “Barbers are building bridges and changing lives one cut at a time!” Mr. Smith will be joined by Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and Health and Human Services (HHS) Commissioner Helen Caulton-Harris, along with Vanessa Ford, the Trust Transfer Project and others, to honor Springfield’s black barbershops in recognition of Black Barbershop Appreciation Month, and in collaboration with Mental Health Awareness Month.

Mayor Sarno states, “Commissioner Helen Caulton-Harris and I are proud to acknowledge, recognize and honor our Springfield black barbershops as part of Black Barbershop appreciation month in collaboration with Mental Health awareness month. It is important to highlight the importance and the significant role of barbers in the lives of their clients and the community and personal confidants who are often a listening ear and trusted counsel during our most challenging times. My late father, Al ‘The Barber’ Sarno, was also a staple in the community offering a listening ear and words of wisdom for his clients so this event is of special importance for me. Clarence, aka ‘The Big C’, was always wonderful to my dad too.”