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11MARCH2012BODYOFCHRISTNEWSQuincyHinessaysthatBarbershopTalkBSTisaroundtablemasterpiecethatbridgestheageraceeconom-icstatusandreligiousgapsbetweenmen.Theroundtableprovidesavenueformalestonotonlyventandsharestoriesbutalsotonetworkwithothermenfromvariouswalksoflife.Theroundtableisexclusivetomenprovid-inganatmosphereformentosharedeep-rootedpainscurrentlifedilem-massportsandothervarioustop-icsconsideredasman-talk.BSTisbaseduponinstillingcorevaluesineverymemberx14demonstratinghones-tycourageintegrityloyaltyrespectselflessserviceandprofessionalisminalllivesandoperations.TheoWilsonaddsthatBSTwascreatedbecausemenalreadyexpressthemselvesinthebarbershopwhichisoneofthelastplaceswhereyoucantelltheunabashedtruthaboutsomethingandnotfearretributionfromahighergovernmentalorpoliticalauthorityx14youcanjustbeyourself.Hesaysx1cSowedecidedtotakewhatisalreadythereorganizeitgiveitadirectionandcreateamovementoutofit.x1dTheoexhortsx1cManyoftheproblemsexistbecausewehavenorelationshipswithpeople.OneofthegreatestthingsthatfellapartaftertheCivilRightsMovementwasthetrustintheBlackcommunityx14theabilitytosayx18thisismyneighborthisismybrotherandIcanrelyonhim.x19Nowwearebuildingthatbackup.x1cNeverunderestimatethepowerofsimplyspeakingyourmind.Whatwehavedoneiswehavecreatedanet-workofnewbrothers.Itisanx18eachoneteachonex19typeofsituationwhereweareexchangingknowledgeandviewpointsandthementorshipandrelationshipbuildinggohand-in-handandaretheprimarygoals.WearealsobuildingrelationshipswiththeAuroraPoliceDepartmentandthatwillgoalongwaytowardchangingattitudesofracialprofilinginourcommunity.x1dTheBSTispredominatelyBlackandincludesmenofdifferentagesandsocio-economicstanding.SaysHarounCowansx1cThisisaplacewherewecanengageeachotherandspeakaboutcertainissues.Thefactthatsomeoneislisteningtomevalidatesmyideasandalsokeepsmeaccountabletolivethemoutinmydailyactivities.Thesecondtierofthatisprovidingmentor-shipfromoldermenwhoareeldersofourcommunitytoyoungermembers.x1dJideGamuBSTx19sfoundersaidx1cItishelpfulformentoknowthatothersaregoingthroughthesamethingsanditgivesthemafeelingofnotbeinginitalone.Ithelpstohearthestoriesofhowothershavecomethroughsomedifficultsituations.Anda30-year-oldcouldbeamentorandalsoamentee.Therearelevelsofmentorship.x1dJideGamucontinuesx1cInWashingtonD.C.thereisa12-year-oldwhohappenstobeveryveryartic-ulate.Hehasbeeninvolvedwithmanyconversationsandbecauseofhislevelofunderstandinghehasbeenmadealevel6mentorwithinBarbershopTalk.Heunderstandstheaccountabil-ityandhisareaofresponsibility.Hechecksuponpeoplethroughouttheweekandheisaccountablefor5-6menwhenwehaveoutsideactivities.Becauseheunderstandsourvaluesandfollowsthemhecanmentormenwhoareolderthanhimandwhomaybeinexecutivepositionswhichmayalsoprovidefutureopportunitiesforhim.x1dJideGamupointsoutx1cFromanationalperspectiveaswecontinuetogrowandchangemenandestablishwhatitmeanstobeamantherespon-sibilitiesofamanandholdpeopleaccountabletothatwewanttogrowandstopseeingeachotherasaBlackmanorWhitemanorJewishmanbutthatx18heisaman.x19Inthatwaywecanmoveforwardandendthedivi-sions.IthinkthatonethingthatsetsusapartisthatwhenmencomeintoBarbershopTalktheyarestrippedoftheirtitlessoyoucanbetheCEOofacompanyoraMuslimorwhatever.ButbeforeyouareamanofGodorapresidentorwhateveryouarejustCOMMUNITYBarbershopTalkMensRoundtableAimstoBuildRelationshipCommunityWehavecreatedanetworkofnewbrothers.Itisanx18eachoneteachonex19typeofsituationwhereweareexchangingknowledgeandviewpoints.Thementorshipandrelationshipbuildinggohand-in-handandaretheprimarygoals.ContinuedonPage24