News
Innovative Program for Fathers in Toronto’s Caribbean Community
Friday Oct 19, 2007
Innovative Program for Fathers in Toronto’s Caribbean Community
(Adapted with permission from a story written by Valerie McDonald for Macaulay Today, the newsletter of the Macaulay Child Development Centre.)
More Than a Haircut
Fathers of Caribbean origin get More than a Haircut in an innovative parenting program offered by Toronto's Macaulay Child Development Centre in cooperation with, of all people, proprietors of several barbershops in the city's north end. Three times over the past year, fathers, step-fathers, grandfathers and uncles gathered in barbershops along Eglinton Avenue to talk about how to support the young children in their lives.
The idea for the program was formed during discussion about Black History month when staff members brainstormed ways to have an impact on the increasing crime and violence in the black community. One contributing factor to these problems is thought to be a lack of strong father role models. Program Supervisor, Susan Gowans, says, "It was one of those wonderful synergistic things that happens when we work as a group. We talked about research findings from an effective parenting project in England that reached out to fathers by going to pubs. Then somebody said, ‘What about barbershops?'"
Barbershops along Eglinton have a unique culture. Like English pubs, they are meeting places for men. Men from Toronto's Caribbean community often gather in barbershops regardless of whether or not they need a haircut. Macaulay hired Kwasi Kafele, a leader in the black community, to help develop the new project. He enlisted former Toronto Argonaut football player, Bruce Smith to run the pilot event along with M.C. the proprietor and Head Barber, of a shop called The Barbers of Eglinton.
Thirty men showed up. "It was a real challenge to involve everyone in a group discussion in that long narrow barbershop with so many people coming and going, " says Gowans.
But Smith managed to engage the large group in a lively presentation on the topic of parenting. Staff from the Macaulay centre provided a table of resources and children's books featuring black families. The barbers chipped in with door prizes of free haircuts.
After this initial success, Kwasi worked with several local barbers and community fathers to plan additional sessions. The barbers are the key partners in the program, says Gowans. "They come up with a list of topics, promote the events, provide the space, and they follow up afterwards by providing information and resources to men who come to their shops."
Macaulay has applied for funds to build on the success of More Than a Haircut in hopes of creating a community of Caribbean men who support each other as parents. Head Barber, M.C., says, "The program More Than a Haircut provides an opportunity to educate and unite Caribbean fathers. Through this program, they hear about things that many were not taught. It helps to educate them about the important role they can play with their children."
Comments and Tips about Black Fatherhood
from Barbers and Men at the Shop
Listen consistently
Focus on the well-being of the child. Do not use the child as a pawn between the two parents.
Be there financially
Reinforce racial and cultural pride consistently
Keep your word
Be present in decisions and developments with school/education, health, etc.
Think and act responsibly re sexual practices
Manage anger and pain of racism. Do not let these flow out to reflect your relationship with your child.
Talk to close friends, share ideas about successful strategies.
Look to elders in the community for support and guidance.
