Sustaining Community Through Business with Devon Reynolds of Brothers & Sisters Unisex Salon

[1:00] Devon's roots in becoming a barber

[2:45] Opening up his own salon at age 23 and evolution as a conscious leader

"Once you understand who you are and your culture, it's hard not to find purpose...to see the voids and want to fill them."

Inspiration from his mother and The Black Panthers
(Documentary "The Black Panthers: The Vanguard of the Revolution"

"The more selfless I am, the more the universe sustains me...I'm being sustained and I have peace in that. I don't think I would have the same amount of peace if I was just about the profit. That's worth everything"

[11:45] Opening "Sweet Ida's" food pantry - now accepting produce thanks to new refrigerators from Mitch Gruber and Foodlink!

[15:00] Monthly community forums because barber shops are pillars of the black community - free haircuts for kids, health screenings, financial advisors

[17:00] Barriers to evolving more conscious businesses in the neighborhood

[20:00] Black entrepreneurship, ownership and group economics
BOSS Documentary: https://www.pbs.org/wnet/boss/video/boss-the-black-experience-in-business-nguxge/

[23:00] The importance of ownership and how Devon is trying to cultivate future black entrepreneurs and conscious leaders
Nikole Hannah-Jones in the New York Times 1619 Project (400th anniversary of slavery coming to America): https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/08/14/magazine/black-history-american-democracy.html

[29:30] What could Rochester do to be a beacon for Conscious Capitalism, Inclusive Prosperity and Minority-Owned Businesses

Book Recommendations:
The Mis-Education Of The Negro
The Fall of America
From Superman to Man
Before Columbus
Conscious Capitalism

Driving past $6 corner store subs to get a $10 sub at Wegmans: "I would drive 20 minutes to go to Wegmans because of what they do for the community."

[36:30] Building a more inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem

[40:00] The future of Brothers and Sisters Unisex Salon - "The salon is kind of like an incubator for entrepreneurs to come out of it. So hopefully I can just keep producing talented people who come out of it that are more socially aware...I would love for the salon to grow, but I feel like I have a higher calling."

[42:00] Encouraging more neighborhood businesses to sustain community
On inspiring the next generation of entrepreneurs, owners and leaders: "if you can tap into them, educate them and make them more conscious, then the next twenty years would look really promising for Rochester."

"If you don't find peace, you'll definitely find purpose."
Visit Brothers and Sisters Unisex Salon on Dewey Avenue to get a haircut or to donate food, clothing, back to school supplies, thanksgiving turkeys (or to pick something up if you're in need)