Indiana Commission on the Social Status of Black Males

Will there be a statewide Indiana Black Barbershop Health Initiative in 2026?

Mark Your Calendar MichiganCity!
𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐚 𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐁𝐚𝐫𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐩 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐈𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞
This statewide event, held in conjunction with local commissions and community partners, will offer free health screenings and education at local barbershops. The initiative seeks to enlighten African American men on how to understand chronic diseases through screening and education.
Recent figures from the Indiana Department of Health show African American men have thehighest mortality rate of any group in Indiana. African American men also suffer from prostate cancer at a higher level in Indiana than any other racial or ethnic group. To learn more about the health outreach effort, and to view a complete list of the barbershops involved, please go to https://www.in.gov/icssbm/ibbhi/locations/.

Mark Your Calendars, Lake County!

The Indiana Black Barbershop Health Initiative (IBBHI) is back, providing FREE health screenings across 5 local barbershops on Saturday, April 19th!

This initiative is an incredible opportunity to prioritize your health while supporting community-centered care. From blood pressure checks to valuable health resources, we’ve got you covered!

Special thanks to the Indiana Commission on the Social Status of Black Males, for making this impactful event possible. For more info and volunteer opportunities, visit in.gov/icssbm/ibbhi

Let’s take charge of our health together!

Mark Your Calendar Evansville!

𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐚 𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐁𝐚𝐫𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐩 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐈𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐄𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐯𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐀𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐥 𝟏𝟐, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓
(EVANSVILLE, IN) – The Indiana Commission on the Social Status of Black Males (ICSSBM) willhost its 13th annual Indiana Black Barbershop Initiative this Saturday, April 12, from 9:00 a.m. to3:00 p.m.
This statewide event, held in conjunction with local commissions and community partners, willoffer free health screenings and education at local barbershops. The initiative seeks toenlighten African American men on how to understand chronic diseases through screening andeducation.
Jeremi Taylor, Chairperson of the Evansville Commission on the Social Status of AfricanAmerican Males, invites the community to come out and participate. “Black barbershops havehistorically been a safe haven and a gathering place for dialogue and to obtain information. Thefoundation of a relationship between Black men and their barber is built on trust. If barberstrust medical professionals to conduct screenings in their shops, Black men are more likely totrust them and seek annual preventative medical advice and care”.
It has been more than a decade since we began this journey of reaching out to Black men inbarbershops to promote positive health outcomes through healthy diets, exercise, and regulardoctor visits. We believe that this initiative has been beneficial, and we thank all thebarbershops for opening their doors year-after-year and providing their patrons with thisopportunity,” Taylor said.

Recent figures from the Indiana Department of Health show African American men have thehighest mortality rate of any group in Indiana. African American men also suffer from prostate cancer at a higher level in Indiana than any other racial or ethnic group. To learn more about the health outreach effort, and to view a complete list of the barbershops involved, please go to https://www.in.gov/icssbm/ibbhi/locations/.

Join us to kickoff the Indiana Black Barbershop Health Initiative (IBBHI)‼️

Are You Ready to Feel Your Best?

The Commission partners with grassroots organizations working to reduce or eliminate barriers to opportunities and access to meaningful employment, education, and health care. To achieve its mission, the Commission identifies, funds, and collaborates with local organizations that have a clear mission, prioritize the community, and deliver measurable results.

Apply for a grant from ICSSBM to organizations in the following areas/activities:

Education: Academic enrichment, civics education, post-secondary education preparation.
Criminal Justice: Incarceration prevention programs, re-entry support for formerly incarcerated individuals.
Employment: Skills-based training opportunities, entrepreneurship programs, youth job engagement services.
Health: Access to care, health education, mental health services.
Social Factors: Family support services, violence reduction interventions, self-development, and empowerment initiatives.

Organizations who fit the above criteria may apply for the grant. ICSSBM grant application period opens Monday, September 2, and closes Monday, November 4. Questions regarding the grant process, please contact Virgil Giles: [email protected].

For more detailed information on the grant program, please visit the ICSSB website at: https://www.in.gov/icssbm/about-us/icssbm-grant-program/

Greetings Community Partners!

The ICCSBM in partnership with CareSource is sponsoring Black Masculinity (Re)Imagined virtual training at no cost as a part of the Commission’s Indiana Black Barbershop Health Initiative.

The training is open to all Indiana barbers and community leaders to identify and apply skills around male socialization, mental health and community violence. The training is specifically for males/masculine individuals to create a safe space for discussing these topics.

Register for the event: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUqfumgrjwrG9zRaxzPl1UEg7m1UnNX9zxm

ICSSBM would like to wish everyone a happy Pride Month!