There’s a new “Barbershop” in town—and while patrons won’t be able to order up a shave and haircut, they will find a support group aimed at increasing health and wellness among Black men in the Coachella Valley.
“Barbershop: A Black Men’s Space for Honest Talk About Sexual Wellness” kicks off Tuesday, Oct. 10, in Palm Springs, with discussions also set for Tuesday, Nov. 14, and Tuesday, Dec. 12. The goal of the forum-style discussion group is to provide a safe space for Black men to gather and talk—in the same way that barber shops are traditionally spaces for male-only conversations.
Tim Vincent, president of Brothers of the Desert, co-founded “Barbershop.” He said participants will find a welcoming space where they can let their hair down and discuss any topic that’s important to them.
The founders of “Barbershop” envision an inclusive gathering of Black men having “open and honest conversation” around sexual wellness topics ranging from dating and intimacy to aging with HIV.
“We really want to break down some of the isolation that Black gay men feel here in the Coachella Valley,” said Vincent.
Brothers of the Desert collaborated with Let’s Kick ASS (AIDS Survivors Syndrome) Palm Springs to bring Barbershop to fruition.
Jax Kelly, president of LKAPS, knew the Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective (BEAM) was offering grants for discussion groups that support Black men aging with HIV. “Barbershop” is being funded by a $10,000 grant from the organization.
Partnering with Brothers of the Desert was “a slam dunk,” Kelly said. Both are local nonprofits with established community advocacy in the valley. LKAPS is a social group that supports HIV/AIDS survivors, while Brothers is a Black-led gay men’s philanthropic organization.
“(‘Barbershop’) really fits into the legacy that Brothers of the Desert has created in the Coachella Valley,” Kelly said. “They’ve been a very important part of raising issues that are important to Black gay men about health and wellness in the desert, so this is just a natural extension for them as well.”
Brothers of the Desert currently has 75 members. With “Barbershop,” Vincent thinks the group can connect with others who understand the challenges of being a Black person living in the Coachella Valley.
“It’s never been done before—a (local) group that is specific and focused on Black men,” said Vincent. “So it’s time.”
“We really want to break down some of the isolation that Black gay men feel here in the Coachella Valley.”
Brothers of the Desert president Tim Vincent
The first “Barbershop” meeting will be facilitated by Stuart Huggins, Food Bank manager with the LGBTQ Community Center of the Desert, and Will Dean, the Desert Healthcare District and Foundation’s director of communications. While they’ll help shape the discussion, Vincent said ideas and topics will also be generated by the men attending the group.
Kelly said he has high hopes that “Barbershop” attendance will expand beyond the current membership of LKAPS and Brothers of the Desert. He said he’d be happy to start with 10-15 participants and watch it grow.
“This is another opportunity to bring support to the Black community at large,” said Kelly. “Not only are Black people taking care of each other, but these are viable groups bringing support services for Black people.”
Supporting Black health and wellness is an ongoing mission, said Vincent. “It’s one of the reasons we started Brothers of the Desert, so we could be visible and have access to support that was really run by us.”
The gatherings are free to attend, but an RSVP is required. Interested men can RSVP and receive location information by emailing Info_Barbershop@LKAPS.org.
