Santa Monica College will host "From Startup to Fruition: Improving Mental Health Through Culturally Competent Haircare" with ClipDart CEO Kyle Parker on Tuesday, Oct. 28, at 11:15 a.m. in Humanities and Social Science HSS 104 on the main campus at 1900 Pico Blvd.
The free event will explore Parker's effort to connect underserved communities with culturally competent barbers and how his app expanded into a flourishing business-to-business hair services company and nonprofit providing mental wellness haircare nationwide.
Parker launched ClipDart while playing basketball professionally in Europe, inspired by his personal battle with haircare inequity as a college student in rural Iowa, where barbers didn't know how to properly cut Black hair.
His organization is now a national nonprofit collaborating with colleges, universities, homeless services and senior centers to promote wellness, one haircut at a time.
The event is sponsored by the SMC Associates, SMC Cosmetology Department and SMC Communication and Media Studies Department.
More information is available by calling the SMC Office of Public Programs at 310-434-4100.
Edited by SMDP Staff