The Fort Wayne Commission on African American Males is joining with the Indiana Commission on the Social Status of Black Males (ICSSBM) to host the Annual Indiana Black Barbershop Health Initiative. The event will be on Saturday, April 22, 2017, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 10 local barbershops.

Volunteer nurses, nursing students and community volunteers will be at each location to provide health screenings for diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol. We will also provide information on colon cancer, HIV/AIDS, the dangers of smoking and tips on developing a healthier lifestyle. There will also be a raffle, with prizes for participants.

The ICSSBM developed the Indiana Black Barbershop Health Initiative in order to help prevent the major health risks for African American males — which include heart disease, cancer, stroke and diabetes. The program reaches out to black males by bringing the health issue to a casual setting where they are more willing to receive information and participate in health screenings. The screenings will take place at more than 50 barbershops in cities throughout Indiana this month.

Participating local barbershops are: Agape Kutz, 2309 Spy Run Ave.; Above Average Barbershop, 354 E. Petit Ave.; Above Average II, 513 E. Jefferson Blvd.: Jerrell’s Barbershop, 2104 S. Clinton St.; Unity Barbershop, 921 E. Pontiac St; Precision Cuts, 7504 S. Anthony Blvd.; Qnic Cuts, 3205 E. Paulding Rd.; Team Jay-Hova Barbershop, 4347 S. Anthony Blvd.; Optimistics Beauty & Barbershop, 3415 Warsaw St. and Art Cut Techs Barbershop, 2843 E. State Blvd.