The beauty industry is one of the largest sectors in the black community economy, and due to the COVID crisis, entrepreneurs of all kinds are struggling to survive. 

Dr. Mendee Ligon of Ligon Dental had the creative idea to support them with a campaign, calling on their clientele to pay them in advance for services to be rendered in the future.

Her idea is now coming to life. The One Community Plan team introduced the #Pay It Forward St. Pete campaign on March 27th, offering microgrants, mass marketing and other business supports to barbers, stylists andnail techs with a physical place of business in St. Petersburg.

The effort is supported by the City of St. Petersburg’s Fighting Chance Fund – a grant program announced this week by Deputy Mayor and City Administrator Dr. Kanika Tomalin as part of the City’s broad-based efforts to buffer small businesses against the impact of the pandemic.

Dr. Tomalin says, “This is an unprecedented time of economic hardship for our community. It tests our resolve and resilience and requires unfettered demonstration of our support of each other and the entrepreneurs who make such a difference for so many. This understanding is driving the City’s work and commitment toward this end. We will get through this together. And, through this trial we will emerge a stronger, more connected community that is prepared for all the future brings.”
As of April 4th, nearly 20 stylists and barbers had registered to participate (see below). One Community’s goal is to launch marketing of #PayItForward.  

Get Involved

  1. REGISTER – If you are a stylists, barber or nail tech interested in taking part in #PayItForward, please fill-out this Registration Form. With questions about how the program works, please reach Dr. Mendee Ligon at mendeebligon@gmail.com or Antonio Brown, owner of Central Station Barbershop & Grooming, at csbg2325@gmail.com.
  2. CONTRIBUTE TO MIGRO-GRANTS – To contribute to the One Community Micro-Grant Fund, you can give online via The 2020 Fund at the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay. To discuss a matching contributions , please reach me (Gypsy Gallardo, CEO of The 2020 Plan/One Community Plan) at OneCommunityPlan@gmail.com.
  3. CONTRIBUTE DIRECT TO ENTREPRENEURS – Please consider supporting our beauty community; CashApp or send a contribution to your own stylist, barber or nail tech to help them stay afloat.

Registered Barbershops & Hair Salons 

Anthony “Tony” Macon, Esquire Barbershop, 1125 22nd Street South, maconb38@gmail.com

Antwan Jennings, Mister’z Barber Lounge, 6393 MLK Street North #106, Misterzbarberlounge@gmail.com

Raymond Jones, Legacy Barbershop, 3116 5th Ave South, Jonesraymond81@yahoo.com

Bunny Arthur, Royal Glow SALON LLC, bunnyarthur@hotmail.com

Rosalyn Hill, Lorkels Hair Design, 3028 Central Ave, Rosalynhill.lh@gmail.com

Consuelo Mackey, Tabatha Exquisite Touch Salon, 1614 Central Ave, Tetsalon@gmail.com

Kristopher McClendon, Salon Be’spoke/Exclusively, 7110 9th Ave North, kmcclendon01@gmail.com

Antonio Brown, Central Station Barbershop and Grooming, 2325 Central Ave, Csbg2325@gmail.com

Kenyatta Harper Killins, Meraki Beauti, 4156 5th Ave North, Merakibeauti@gmail.com

Johnnia Mitchell, Just B Beautiful Inc., 4201 4th Street North, Suite 2, book@justbbeautiful.me

Chrishonna Daniels, Custom Beauty Spa, 3600 49th Street North, Custombeauty727@gmail.com

Marion Davis, Blessed by the Best Hair Salon and Spa, 1402 58th Street South, Throughchrist2008@yahoo.com

Marilyn Lopez, Marilyn’s Hair Salon, 2826 54th Ave South, Mariestilys83@gmail.com

STYLISTS

Alphonso McCloud, Barber, Mister’z Barber Lounge, 6393 MLK Street North #106

Altamease Caldwell, Stylist, Salon 2000, 3457 5th Ave North, altameasecaldwell75@gmail.com

Malissa Daneshpour, Stylist, Images by Anderson, 880 3rd Ave South, grannylocker@gmail.com

Shamira Burton, Stylist, Tabatha’s Exquisite Touch Salon, 1614 Central Ave, mirastylezhair@gmail.com