Man Up! brings health and haircuts to men in South LA

Grey’s Anatomy star James Pickens Jr. will help launch new community-based campaign to improve health of African American and Latino men
 

Please contact: Gwen Driscoll | MLKCH | 310-720-4441 | gdriscoll@mlkch.org

Willowbrook, June 1 – A new program is bringing health education to African American and Latino men through a trusted venue: the barber’s chair.

In an area of Los Angeles with some of the worst health statistics in the nation, nine barbershops throughout South LA have teamed up with doctors from the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Hospital (MLKCH) and MLK Community Medical Group to offer “Man Up!” – a new men’s health education and outreach program.

Their job: to talk with men in a supportive setting about the common health risks men face and to give them access to the resources and education that can help them stay healthy.

African American men have some of the highest rates of prostate cancer and heart disease and diabetes. Latino men have high rates of obesity compared to other racial/ethnic groups and are three times more likely to be uninsured.

“Health doesn’t have to be an intimidating conversation,” said Dr. Jorge Reyno, Vice President of Population Health at MLKCH.  “We want to get the word out in places where men feel comfortable. We want the trusted voices of our community members leading the conversation. We know that sometimes it takes support to get the support you need.”

Related: Good health news from the barber: An interview with barber Darryl Jones

The barbershops are located in Compton, Carson, Gardena, Inglewood, Watts and other locations in South Los Angeles.  Outreach events are held on the first Saturday of every month.

Free blood sugar, blood pressure and BMI screenings are offered at each barbershop event. Partners, including the American Heart Association, Los Angeles Trade Technical College, and local nursing schools and associations, support these events with educational material and expert staff. Most importantly, barbers within each of the nine shops have been trained to encourage their clients to get screened and to take home health information.  More than 155 men have been screened so far.

Celebrity doc

The ambassador for the new campaign is fictional “doctor”: James Pickens Jr., an actor who plays the well-respected, former chief of surgery, Dr. Richard Webber, on the popular and long-running ABC series “Grey’s Anatomy.”

Pickens will appear at two barbershops on June 1

11:30am 

Just Showin Off
628 E. El Segundo Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90059

Noon

The Place to Be
17531 S. Central Ave.
Carson, CA 90745

Pickens has personal reasons for supporting outreach to African American and Latino men about their health: men in his family have had prostate cancer, one of the leading causes of death among black men.

“Please listen to someone who knows and get tested. That ounce of prevention can add years to your life and the quality of time you spend with your family.” - James Pickens, Jr.

“Please listen to someone who knows and get tested,” said Pickens. “That ounce of prevention can add years to your life and the quality of time you spend with your family.”

Man Up! events take place on the first Saturday of every month throughout 2019 from 9:30am – 1:30pm.  The Man Up! program will start with barbershops and then grow to include other places where African American and Latino men gather.

Barbershops participating in the Man Up! Program:

Just Showin' Off
628 E. El Segundo Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90059

The Place To Be
17531 S. Central Ave.
Carson, CA 90745

Posh Klipz
211 W. Manchester Ave.
Inglewood, CA 90301

VIP Barbershop
2251 W. Rosecrans Ave.
Compton, CA 90222

In The Cut
220 E Regent St.
Inglewood, CA 90301

Fade Away Barber Shop
14125 S. Van Ness Ave.
Gardena, CA 90249

Brimberry Barber & Beauty Salon
3401 W. 43rd Place #B 
Los Angeles, CA 90008

Magnificent Brothers Barber Shop
4267 S. Crenshaw Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90044

A Sharp Edge
4088 Crenshaw Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90043
 
Learn more: Community health