The Story of Buzz It Forward

Anthony Jordan Photography · December 11, 2016

Barber Jaeson (also known as Chino) servicing the Overtown community youth with haircuts and mentoring at the Soul Basel: Urban Soul Experience.

Five days of art galleries, nightlife, networking, and charity work. If you missed the kick off of #BuzzItForward, you truly missed something spectacular. BuzzitForward is an initiative created through Talent4Change, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to inspiring, uniting, and empowering children in underserved communities.

The Do Better Project, created by Amir Youssef, owner of the Chop Shop Barbershop and program director of the BUZZ IT FORWARD program, empowers children, families, and communities. Through grooming services and mentoring, the program re-instills a sense of self-confidence and positive body image, encouraging children to better their community in order to be awarded a haircut voucher.

It started with the inaugural presentation of the Buzz Boxx in Wynwood. The Buzz Boxx Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on Wednesday, November 30th was attended by many local patrons, supporters and benefitting organizations. “The purpose of Buzz It Forward is to help kids LOOK BETTER so they can FEEL BETTER, in turn DO BETTER,” said Michael Caraballo, founder of Talent4Change.

The Mavericks Barbershop and Red Carpet Barbershop both partnered with the Chop Shop Barbershop Wynwood to staff the Buzz Boxx and facilitate free haircuts to groups of deserving young men. On Saturday, December 3rd, the Buzz Boxx was moved to Overtown — the first installation of its nationwide effort — making #BuzzItForward one of the best community showcases of the year.