EmpoweringCuts

My name is Joshua Santiago and I live in Philadelphia. As a young male growing up in North Philadelphia all my life, I had to deal with many hardships in my life. As I entered into adulthood, It seemed that every time I tried to do things for the better in my life, I chose to make decisions that took me down a path of destruction that ultimately made my life very difficult. After a rough life and many years of making poor decisions, I made the decision in 2014 to turn my life around for the better and attend barber school.
Becoming a barber was a lifelong dream but unfortunately my life choices took me elsewhere. Once I started barbering school, my original plan was to get my license and just go to work at a barber shop. I was set on getting this license and setting a work foundation at any local shop that would give me a chance. After a few months in school, my barber instructor started taking us to their monthly volunteering events that consisted of giving free haircuts to the homeless and the less fortunate. My first experience was an emotional one. I never knew or cared about why people were homeless. It seemed that all I worried about was my own personal life and that was it. But I learned that in our life journey we are taken to places where we would never expect to be taken to and these walks ultimately mold our lives. That one experience opened the way to a series of other heartwarming experiences. The more time I spent with many homeless men, the more I saw how their self-esteem increased once they walked out with a fresh haircut. Each haircut blessed these men, who confidently walked out with their heads held up high. Each person who sat in my chair had a story to tell. Each story brought forth compassion, sympathy and a better understanding about why people had become homeless. The more my heart was touched by these men, the more my need of making a difference became stronger. It took me years to realize that change had to take place within myself before I could even think about changing the world and making a difference. My plans weren’t God’s plans.
After I graduated from school in 2015, I did a lot of soul searching. I knew that my journey wasn’t taking me inside a barber shop to just make money. My journey was actually taking me into a path of service. I committed my time at different non -profit organizations that were willing to allow me to give free haircuts to the homeless men in the community. This journey has helped me grow and has helped me realize my true purpose in life.
The purpose of this GoFundMe is to get the support from people who would be willing to help me make my dream come true. My goal is to purchase a RV or school bus and transform it into a mobile barbershop. This mobile barbershop will serve the less fortunate men, women and children in the Tri-State area or wherever I am touched to go and offer free haircuts. The transformation of the RV or bus will include a wheelchair lift, 3 barber chairs, 1 shampoo bowl, refrigerator, waiting area and just the comforts of a place where anyone who is homeless or less fortunate can come and feel welcome. My ultimate goal is to make this a project that can become a series of many mobile barbershops that will service many communities. This dream takes time and financial support from those who support my vision and want to see me make a difference in the community. I hope that those who read this understand that this vision is not only something I really want to do but I know it is the path God is leading me to. I hope many of you will support my dream and contribute towards the goal I am trying to reach and I hope you share with others my page so that I am able to reach my goal with all of your support! Thank You