Community Feedback

"I had the pleasure of attending The Shop Presents: Barbershop Movie Night and Panel Discussion hosted by Shelby Wormley and Sammie Rosa Jr. Upon entering the F&M Winter Visual and Performing Arts Center and finding the event space, I was immediately immersed in Shelby's artistic presence. "Who Drank My Apple Juice," a signature quote from the Barbershop movie, called me to attention. I focused on her synopsis of her program appropriately titled The Shop, with the theme of how barbershops are affected by the pandemic, and gazed at her images of familiar barber shops and salons in the Lancaster City area. Although I have never been to any of these establishments, her pictures captured the spaces we all know and love. The waiting area, the dryer chairs, the salon chairs and mirrors, and the people, owners and clients, all give the same feeling of familiarity and community even if you have never been there. I took my seat in the comfortable theater hall and noted how Shelby used the state-of-the-art technology to seamlessly present the movie to the attendees. She also utilized technology effectively to give us an anonymous option to ask questions. That was a very nice gesture because understandably some people may be hesitant asking questions on sensitive areas of this topic. She also has links to her website which will continue to be updated on her research on barber shops and how they are affected by the pandemic. Barbershop is a classic and timeless movie because it captures that familiar element of community that runs through all black barbershops. It was the perfect movie choice for the panel discussion. When the panel discussion started, Shelby and Sammie had two gentlemen from Champs barbershop on the panel and they were experts and professional in speaking on the topic. They were able to relate directly to how the pandemic affected their business and the mental health of both themselves and their clients. There were also two Doctors present from Patients R Waiting who spoke extensively on the mental health resources available to our local community. There was good participation and engagement from the audience, and Shelby and Sammie were great in tying the audience responses to the movie and the present day challenges faced by shops. Overall, the evening was incredibly informative and intellectually stimulating. I will continue to follow her project with great interest. Altaress "Ally" Craig"—