UPPER DARBY, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — The tight-knit community of Upper Darby is one of the most diverse municipalities in the commonwealth. People of over 100 different backgrounds and cultures call this quaint township home. As with many areas nestled close to a large city, the ripple effects of violent crime in Philadelphia can be felt there. That is what motivates the community activism of one local business owner, who many consider to be a one-man band.
Tyce Combs is the owner of Generations Barber School (6830 Market Street). Its doors opened in 2006, and the shop has become a community hub among Upper Darby’s youth. As the saying goes, if you want to know what’s going on in a neighborhood, spend some time in the local barber shop.
'An example and a positive light'
On any given day, patrons can walk into the shop and get a very affordable hair cut from a student or an instructor. Combs even keeps his bathroom open for the public to use. He is truly fond of his community.
“When I came here, I was embraced by the community and received a lot of support,” he said. “In fact, I opened up a music studio here, because I wanted to focus on some of the inner-city youth from this area, to give them something to do, because there were no recreational centers.”
That was just the beginning. Combs has created several youth programs over the years. Some ended when the pandemic hit — but most of Combs’ efforts have been self-funded, which can make them unsustainable in the long run. This, however, doesn't stop him from engaging with young people.
His school — the only barber academy in Delaware County — is where young people and others can come to earn their license. And he does it at a cost significantly lower than the rate many other schools would charge — in some cases, upwards of $8,000. For the total hours needed to obtain a license, Generations Barber School charges $2,500, and the students can do it at their own pace.
Combs tells the young men that a barber’s career is a respectable one, and he serves as an example.
“I’ve been doing as much as I can to be an example and be a positive light for younger Black males that are coming up in this area,” Combs said, walking Market Street and greeting several people along the way.
Generations Barber School features the main barber shop area, the school, and Generations Community Square, where young kids work in the summer selling water ice, ice cream and other refreshments. All of this is designed to engage young people, and keep them out of trouble.
Currently he runs an anti-gun violence initiative at the shop. On Wednesdays he encourages young people to put the guns down and have a conversation.
“In that group we focus on gun prevention and conflict resolution, and we host that every Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. at Generations Community Square.”
Related
'You only can teach them but so much'
Gun violence in the small township of Upper Darby pales in comparison to the experience in Philadelphia. According to recent data, in 2021, 15 people were struck by gunfire in Upper Darby, compared with over 2,000 in Philadelphia.
As a member of Upper Darby Rising, an initiative of the school board, Combs is pushing for more support for youth programs in all parts of the township.
Corey Blackwell, a shop instructor and community activist himself, says more programs are needed to keep young people on the right path.
“It’s so sad. I cry in my heart, like, every day, because we have so many senseless homicides and killings that involve this gun violence,” said Blackwell.
Russel Gantt, another instructor at the school, says the only way to keep kids safe from the gun violence epidemic is to teach them young, which starts at home.
“You only can teach them but so much,” Gantt said. “It’s up to them to take it the rest of the way. We can only pray for them and hope for the best, that’s all.”
No stranger to gun violence
Wesley Thorn, one of Combs’ students, is on his way to being a fully licensed barber. He enrolled at the school to perfect his craft.
“I wanted to be able to do hair the proper way, because in 2015, when I began cutting hair, I believe I was doing a lot of things the wrong way,” Thorn said. “Coming to barber school helped me to become more knowledgeable.”
He has the full support of his customers, like Bless Harris, who was in the chair getting a shape up and fade.
“All his mess-ups happen with me, but now he’s here. We went through the journey, and he’s getting ready to take his test to fully become a barber. It’s good to see him go through the process to where he is now.” Harris said.
Shalon Jones has lots of hours with the school. She's been attending on and off for nine years, and she doesn't plan to leave there anytime soon. She calls the school, students and instructors her family.
“It’s just a wonderful experience to meet people and network with people interested in the same things as you,” she said.
Dr. Jonathan Wilson is director of admissions at the academy. He says there’s a huge population of people practicing without a license, so that’s where they put their focus.
Wilson, who uses a wheelchair, is no stranger to gun violence.
“It was a robbery gone bad in my barbershop in Wilmington, Delaware, in 2011,” Wilson said. “I was shot in a robbery. I lost my ability to walk. I can still cut hair, because my wheelchair stands up. This is a really great opportunity for me. I have a job and I have the opportunity to help others.”
In fact, the school has a special program for individuals with spinal cord injuries, teaching them how to successfully provide barber services while using a wheelchair.
No plans of letting up
Combs says many people from Philadelphia have been talking about coming to Upper Darby.
“There's so many people that's like: ‘I gotta get out of Philly. It's too violent.’ And they want to come to Upper Darby,” Combs said.
Helping the youth in the community is Tyson Combs' biggest passion, and he has no plans of letting up. Combs says he’ll continue to do as much as he can, but he says more support is needed to reach more young people.
Meanwhile, as they celebrate Juneteenth this weekend, fathers will get haircuts for free.
Related
