When Community Cuts for Kids returns to the St. Louis area to celebrate its 15th year next weekend (August 8-9), the two-day event will fall in line with another milestone that will once again have all eyes on the St. Louis region.
As event founder Craig Shields was busy managing an assembly line servicing hundreds of area youth with haircuts, styles, school supplies and health screenings at the East St. Louis location last year, Ferguson was seething after Michael Brown Jr. was killed in the Canfield Green Apartments.
“For me it was so surreal,” Shields said of hearing the news of an unarmed black teen being killed by a police officer. “I was stunned.”
But for Shields, better known to St. Louis as former radio personality Craig Blac, his work continued.
The next day, hundreds more students were served as he set up shop at the O’Fallon Recreation Complex YMCA while a movement brewed on the opposite end of West Florissant.
He never imagined the eruption that grew from an outraged community would result in months of unrest. By the time the full-fledged protests began, he was already on a plane back to his native Washington, D.C.
Shields hasn’t lived in the St. Louis area 2012, but continues to come back to the city for the popular community service event that provides haircuts, styles and school supplies for area youth as they head back for the next school year.
What began as a service-based radio remote has expanded to include two locations – in East St. Louis and St. Louis. In the last two years it has grown to include health screenings as well.
His event has happened at or around the same weekend since 2000.
This year, it will be happening as the community reflects on the one-year anniversary of Brown’s death on Saturday, August 8 at the Bates Community Center in East St. Louis and the O’Fallon Rec Plex on Sunday, August 9.
“For me to be a part of the community by giving back while St. Louis is just trying to come together is right on point,” Shields said.
Between the hair, health screenings and school supplies he served an estimated 3,000 students in 2014 and expects that number to be even higher for 2015.
Several area barber colleges and beauty schools have partnered with Shields to pull off his event each year, but he says a lot of stylists and barbers come on their own as well.
“I try to encourage them to register, but they’ll just show up with their whole team like ‘We heard about it. We’re here. Let’s do it,’” Shields said.
“That’s the great thing about it. It’s wonderful to see the spark in the kids’ eyes when they get that fresh style or cut, but to see people take time on their busiest day – giving up a chance to make some hard-earned money – and they just come out and give their time to make a difference.”
He sees firsthand the impact of their act of kindness.
“You’d be surprised how people seeing other people willing to help them can inspire those on the receiving end,” Shields said. “The moms get really emotional.”
Shields is stirred up as well as he reflects on 15 years of serving St. Louis – and being counted among those trying to heal the city by lending a helping hand.
“For me to be there so they can have a good feeling on the anniversary of Mike Brown’s death, that means a lot to me,” Shields said. “And I’m so glad that it’s going on to help enforce some positive energy into the city right now.”
KTVI Fox 2 News will be hosting a Community Cuts for Kids school supply drive on Wednesday, August 5 starting at 8 a.m. Donations can be dropped off at KTVI Studios, 2250 Ball Dr., St Louis, MO 63146.
The 15th Annual Community Cuts For Kids will take place from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Saturday, August 8 at the Lessie Bates Family Development Center, 1045 State Street, East St. Louis, Illinois and from 2 p.m. – 6 p.m. Sunday, August 9, Sunday at the O’Fallon Park Rec Complex YMCA, 4343 West Florissant. To pre-register or for more information, visit http://thecraigshieldsfoundation.org/.
