(WCCO)
For generations, barbershops have been home to trusted messengers in the black community. Now barbers are being asked to pass along information that could save lives.
Barbershop Conversations is a project designed to inform black men about the importance of organ and tissue donation and how donors are needed.
Inside Brian D's Old School Barbers there is a lot more going on than just cutting hair.
"Barbers are like counselors anyway. Basically, they can talk to their barber and their barber might be able to give them some insight," said Tommy Carpenter, a barber.
The barbershop is one of several in the Twin Cities where the insight barbers are giving to their clients is about the importance of organ and tissue donation. Their focus -- black men.
"With getting this information out there and letting some of the brothers know, I think that they are actually passing it on to one another, "said shop owner and barber, Brian Davis.
The need is great. Everyday, 17 people die waiting for an organ transplant.
In the region that includes Minnesota, North and South Dakota, Wisconsin and Illinois, 7,000 people are waiting for a kidney transplant -- more than 3,000 of them are black.
On a national level, 54 percent of people waiting for an organ are black, and the donation rate isn't keeping up.
Warren Edwards is one of the lucky ones.
"The doctors told me that they didn't think it was going to happen for me. They didn't think that it would happen in time," said Edwards.
His liver transplant came right on time. Edwards believes educating the community has helped give people like him a second chance at life.
"It's been going great. I feel better than I felt before I found out I was sick," said Edwards.
LifeSource received a grant from the federal government that made Barbershop Conversations a reality.
You can find more information about organ and tissue donation by clicking here.
Reporting
Click to enlarge- The barbershop is one of several in the Twin Cities where the insight barbers are giving to their clients is about the importance of organ and tissue donation. Their focus -- black men.
CBS
Barbershop Conversations is a project designed to inform black men about the importance of organ and tissue donation and how donors are needed.
Inside Brian D's Old School Barbers there is a lot more going on than just cutting hair.
"Barbers are like counselors anyway. Basically, they can talk to their barber and their barber might be able to give them some insight," said Tommy Carpenter, a barber.
The barbershop is one of several in the Twin Cities where the insight barbers are giving to their clients is about the importance of organ and tissue donation. Their focus -- black men.
"With getting this information out there and letting some of the brothers know, I think that they are actually passing it on to one another, "said shop owner and barber, Brian Davis.
The need is great. Everyday, 17 people die waiting for an organ transplant.
In the region that includes Minnesota, North and South Dakota, Wisconsin and Illinois, 7,000 people are waiting for a kidney transplant -- more than 3,000 of them are black.
On a national level, 54 percent of people waiting for an organ are black, and the donation rate isn't keeping up.
Warren Edwards is one of the lucky ones.
"The doctors told me that they didn't think it was going to happen for me. They didn't think that it would happen in time," said Edwards.
His liver transplant came right on time. Edwards believes educating the community has helped give people like him a second chance at life.
"It's been going great. I feel better than I felt before I found out I was sick," said Edwards.
LifeSource received a grant from the federal government that made Barbershop Conversations a reality.
You can find more information about organ and tissue donation by clicking here.
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