Jackie Rowe-Adams lost two of her children to gun violence.
“We’ve realized we cannot bring our children back, so we can help another mother, another family, from feeling the pain and the hurt that we feel,” Rowe-Adams said.
She turned that pain into purpose by starting Harlem Mothers and Fathers S.A.V.E. 20 years ago with four other moms who also lost their children due to weapons.
“The truth is, if my two sons were alive, I wouldn’t be doing this,” Rowe-Adams said.
What You Need To Know
- On Thursday, Harlem Mothers and Fathers S.A.V.E. held a graduation ceremony in East Harlem for more than 20 youth who earned their barber apprentice licenses
- The goal of the program is to get at-risk youth into productive activities — so instead of guns getting into people’s hands, they’re getting clippers
- The next step is for students to get a master barber license so they can open their own business
That small group of mothers has grown over the years with a mission to get guns off the streets and at-risk youth into productive activities.
On Thursday, the group held a graduation ceremony in East Harlem for more than 20 youth who have earned their barber apprentice licenses.
“A lot of kids aren’t going to college. Everybody can’t be an NBA player. Everybody can’t be a sports figure,” Russell Smith, owner of Big Russ Barbershops, said.
About two years ago, Harlem Mothers and Fathers S.A.V.E. and Russell Smith created the Big Russ Barber Apprentice and Seed Program. Instead of guns getting into people’s hands, they’re getting clippers.
“For some of these young men, they have nobody to call. Even the young ladies, they have nobody to sit down and talk to,” Smith said.
“It keeps me out of trouble,” program graduate Ronnie Perry said.
“It helps the community out more. You know, gets everyone involved,” another program graduate, Malushy Mateo, said.
Kenneth Gilmore Jr. said he helps train the students.
“I’m one of the guys that came out of the correction facility,” Gilmore Jr. said.
Gilmore served 31 years in prison. He wants the students to avoid the hard lessons he’s learned.
“At the same time, it reinforces what I need to do to stay on the straight and narrow,” Gilmore Jr. said.
As the students move into a new career, Rowe-Adams said she believes she’s helped save lives in the process.
“Sometimes, God doesn’t make a mistake. It was meant for me to do this work,” Rowe-Adams said.
The next step is for students to get a master barber license so they can open their own business.