The ACMP is happy to announce that we have been awarded a Prime X Community Grant focused on a series of Barbershop Talks and Salon Talks in Winnipeg!
The Hairstyling and Conversations project, in partnership with the Prime X Community Grant, is a community-driven initiative happening in Winnipeg in 2026. The project utilizes Black-owned, Winnipeg-based barbershops and salons as culturally safe environments to address mental health and systemic inequality within Black communities. By transforming these familiar social hubs into forums for open dialogue, the program seeks to dismantle barriers to support for marginalized groups while challenging harmful stereotypes. Guided by academic research and mentorship, the series facilitates discussions on topics like trauma, identity, and healing to foster a greater sense of belonging and resilience. Scholars, local business owners, and the broader community are encouraged to collaborate to bridge the gap between lived experience and formal study, ensuring the voices of participants are amplified in both community and professional spheres. Ultimately, the project aims to establish a trauma-informed framework for social change that promotes long-term emotional and structural empowerment for Black residents.
The primary audience is targeted for Black men, boys, women, and girls residing in Winnipeg. However, the programs are open to those who do not identify as Black to participate in the conversations and learn ways to liberate Black people in the spirit of solidarity. While the series is open to a wide age range, the research recruitment phase will specifically target individuals aged 18–45.
Starting January 2026, the Hairstyles on Conversations will address the five themes:
Between the first four themes, the project will host a Salon and a Barbershop Talks on different dates for Black community members, who identify as men and boys or women and girls (not discriminating against any gender identifying person), and who feel comfortable participating in either of the programs. The final event, “Bring it Together,” will invite everyone to a larger Barbershop Talk and Salon Talk joint event in May 2026. Location TBD.
The first Hairstyle and Conversation will be the Salon Talk event!