James bolted from the chair with a smile on his face. The 6-year-old almost ran away too fast to get some of the freshly trimmed hair from his small pajama pants. But barber Mark Noel caught up to him and brushed it off before a friend dapped him up in shared excitement. This time, Noel's Trolley Grooming Lounge chair wasn't set up in Trolley Square. This November evening, it joined a buzzing line of other barbers, surrounded by families, music and free food. One Village Alliance kicked off its second year of "Free"dom Mondays, an initiative aiming to attract families and youngsters to its Wilmington center alongside licensed barbers and stylists. This Nov. 4 night was also billed as its first "
Fall Fest ," fit with a pumpkin patch, bounce houses, free winter coats and over 300 attendees registered online. The nonprofit is already used to offering a safe afterschool program just about every weekday, alongside other programming in about 16 sites throughout the region — but the first Monday of every month will be more unique. Each one this school year will see free haircuts, loc retwists, family health screenings, food and much more at 31 W. 31st St. Hair care might seem small at first glance, but nonprofit leaders know how much it means to students. And for working families these days, such cuts or retwists can cost $50 to $100 a visit. It's just one part of building "a village" for Wilmington’s youngest residents. "We offer a safe haven where young people feel valued and supported," said Armani Coleman, vice president of operations. The University of Delaware graduate has led the initiative since fall 2023, when over 200 haircuts made up the first year. Events target any student ages 7 to 17. "We provide dinner, mentoring, tutoring, prevention programming, build self-esteem and foster a strong sense of community. And it continues with completely free afterschool programming daily. This is our way of helping the next generation step into the classroom with confidence and a sense of belonging."
Continuing a mission in Delaware
As families and students bounced around some 10,000 square feet of space, One Village Alliance also offered free winter coats through a partnership with Project Warm, free prom dresses and health resources from partner AmeriHealth Caritas. "The youth love it. The community loves it," Coleman said, finding a moment away in a quiet office. "And it's definitely a way to bring the community and bring the youth in. And then, once we get the youth in, they're not on the street as often, and we can actually encourage them, mentor them." President and CEO Chandra Pitts never expected a brick-and-mortar location for One Village Alliance, which has partnered to host the
Raising Kings conference and worked across schools and other sites since 2009. She got the keys to this donated location in 2020. Now, the organization's Freedom Center maintains about one city block of property in Northwest Wilmington. One Village Alliance was key in offering emergency aid in the heat of pandemic, Pitts said, from food and personal protection, to WiFi hotspots and a safe space. Now moving away from crisis, her team is continuing a transition to new strategies with the center — like free afterschool programming, summer camp, gaming space, entrepreneurship studios, local speaker gatherings and more — to support working families. These are largely families who don't qualify for aid like subsidized child care. These join active program sites across the region, in hubs like libraries, schools and all institutes where youth are incarcerated near Wilmington. There's hope events like "Free"dom Mondays will only continue to boost awareness of all resources. "Yes, there are pumpkins. We're doing free coats. We have free prom dresses. All these creative things that the community really needs, and it will get their attention," Pitts said. "It's not enough to just say, 'Hey, we're providing free dinner for this program' anymore. You really have to do something dope and creative." Some 10 or more barbers committed to the year, Coleman said, which may extend past the school year if resources can muster. The goal for Nov. 4 was 150 people. One Village Alliance more than doubled that in online registration. Their team expects the village to keep growing.
Delaware school climate: They banned cellphones in their schools. How's it going? If you go
When : From 4 to 7 p.m., every first Monday of the month. The next event is Dec. 2.
More : For volunteer opportunities or more information, contact
[email protected] or call (855)-YOUTH-ED (968-8433).
