Marichal and Rodney Brown, brothers who own and operate HAIRitage Barbershop in Sacramento, have redefined what it means to be barbers in the Black community. At HAIRitage, The Brown Brothers offer more than a haircut – they provide a safe space for clients to talk about their mental and emotional health.  

Trained by The Confess Project of America, Marichal and Rodney provide a listening ear, but also mental health education and connections to mental health resources in the community. In the process, they are working to break down the stigma Black men often face when it comes to talking openly about their mental health. 

The brothers are part of a growing network of trained barbers-turned-advocates around the country called The Confess Project of America Barber Coalition. The coalition works to foster mental health advocacy in marginal and underrepresented communities, specifically in the Black community, where suicide has become the third leading cause of death. Through their barber chairs, coalition members like the Brown brothers are addressing the current mental health crisis with a community-oriented approach that centers trust, authenticity, and direct connection.

The work the Brown brothers are doing serves as a powerful reminder that many successful mental health initiatives do not start in a clinical or medical environment. We are grateful for the Brown brothers’ continued work in creating a community-based, non-traditional space where clients can discuss their mental health and gain access to critical mental health resources.