GLENDALE – In the Glendale Community Center, the sound of clippers and scissors mixes with the chatter of a Lotería game, a traditional Mexican activity similar to bingo. Older adults gather around a table, placing beans on their cards as a staff member calls out in earnest, if imperfect, Spanish. One client, fresh from her haircut, quickly joins the game, eager to shout “Lotería!” and claim her prize.
The barbers and hairstylists at the center are part of The ClipDart Giveback, a nonprofit organization providing mobile barber and salon services to improve mental health in vulnerable communities by recreating the barbershop experience.
Founded to address the lack of affordable, quality hair services for students of color and vulnerable populations, ClipDart focuses on providing skilled haircuts, especially for textured hair. The organization operates through two main branches: ClipDart Inc. and The ClipDart Giveback.
ClipDart Inc. partners with institutions to assist people of color in predominantly white areas, organizing barbers to travel from nearby cities to meet their hair care needs. The ClipDart Giveback, the nonprofit arm, collaborates with human services organizations nationwide to offer free, regular haircuts to those in need.
David Rodriguez, ClipDart’s barber and chief strategy officer, attributes the organization’s rapid growth to its focus on Black and Hispanic communities. “Our demographic is large, but no one understands us like we do. Our barbers and hairstylists bring back the culture people miss when they move to areas without others like them,” Rodriguez said.
ClipDart recreates the barbershop environment with mobile barber stations and community-specific music. During haircuts, barbers engage clients in conversations about various topics, from sports to personal stories.
Daniel Holguin, a volunteer at the center, appreciates Rodriguez’s honest approach and quality service. “He knows how to treat people with respect,” Holguin said.
Rodriguez believes the combination of music and professional mobile setups completes the barbershop experience, contributing to the organization’s fast growth. “We bring the full barbershop experience to them,” he explained.
Moraima Robledo, a hairstylist with 25 years of experience and a ClipDart volunteer, feels embraced by the community. “They say, ‘Here comes the lady!’ because they know we’ll laugh and talk together,” Robledo said. She forms strong connections with clients, often receiving hugs, which she credits to her experience with special needs family members.
ClipDart’s frequent visits create lasting bonds with clients, who often ask, “When are you coming back?” as a sign of their desire for regular services.
The lively atmosphere at the community center during a visit from Cronkite News mirrored scenes from the 2002 movie “Barbershop,” capturing a day in the life of a Southside Chicago barbershop. As the Lotería game continued and haircuts were completed, a visitor danced to “El Tucanazo” by Los Tucanes de Tijuana, embodying the joyful spirit ClipDart brings to the community.
