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Trusted Spaces. Healthier Communities.
Barbers building trust, breaking stigma, and connecting communities to better health.
Cutting Out Stigma trains barbers as Men's Health Ambassadors to start the conversations about health that too often don’t happen. Whether about HIV, mental health, or substance use, our barbers are turning the shop into places their clients talk about health and get connected to care.
Cutting Out Stigma’s founder was recognized as a Boston Celtics Heroes Among Us honoree //
TURNING BARBERSHOPS INTO HUBS FOR HEALTH
Too often, traditional health systems have struggled to engage Black men in care, and health conversations happen too late or not at all. Black barbershops have long been trusted spaces for conversation, connection and community. Cutting Out Stigma equips barbers with the knowledge, tools and connections to turn everyday conversations into opportunities for better health.
“We’re like the doctor before the doctor. People come to us because… we’re trusted”
-COS Barber
Watch the Story to learn how
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Community Impact
Real Trust. Real Results.
25+
Barbershops
75+
Barbers Trained
4,500+
Health Conversations
2,500+
Connections to Resources & Care
150,000+
Campaign Impressions
“Cutting Out Stigma kinda made me a pillar in my community.”
— Cutting Out Stigma Barber
WHAT THE EVIDENCE SHOWS
An NIH-funded 6-month implementation trial evaluated Cutting Out Stigma in 26 TN barbershops. The study found significant improvements in barber HIV knowledge, lower HIV-related stigma among clients who talked to COS barbers, and substantial reach through barber-client conversations and community referrals.
Barbers become Men's Health Ambassadors.
TRAIN
Trusted conversations make health personal.
Engage
Clients connect with information, resources and care.
Connect
Individuals and communities build healthier futures.
Thrive
Watch Cutting Out Stigma Barbers in action
Growing the Movement
What began as a program to address HIV stigma in Tennessee has expanded to Massachusetts.
Today, Cutting Out Stigma is growing into a broader community-driven movement advancing health equity for Black men and communities of color tackling HIV, mental health, substance use, and other pressing health challenges through trusted community spaces.
TESTIMONIALS
“I'm reaching different types of people, different, you know, different generations of people, it's like, and I feel like that's a great thing”
From Cutting out Stigma Barber
So I mean, I’m excited to share… It helps me feel good, like I’m, you know, fulfilling my purpose.”
From Cutting out Stigma Barber
“I feel like Cutting Out Stigma changed a lot of people's outlook on it just by knowing about it, or knowing that somebody cared to talk to you about it.”
From Cutting out Stigma Barber
The People Behind
the Work
Cutting Out Stigma is powered by a diverse network of leaders working together to advance community health.
Barbers
Trusted community voices leading health conversations where they matter most.
Public Health and Community Leaders
Public health, academic, and community leaders strengthening partnerships, deepening engagement, and driving impact.
Founder
Dr. Aima Ahonkhai, Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School, physician at Mass General Brigham, and implementation science researcher advancing health equity.
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Multimedia That Reaches People
Our culturally tailored posters, billboards, social media campaigns, and in-shop materials reach over 25,000 people every month. By combining bold visuals with community-centered messaging, we meet people where they are with information that resonates.
These multimedia efforts help spark conversations, increase awareness, and connect individuals to trusted health resources.
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With Gratitude to Our Funders
