V O L . X X V I I N O. V
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M A R C H 8 , 2 0 2 1 16
D I V E R S I T Y / E Q U I T Y / I N C L U S I O N
F O C U S
W
hen Adrian Reyes
opened his barber shop,
Kings and Queens
Hair Studio, in Brunswick five years
ago, he wanted to create an environ-
ment where people of any background
and gender would feel comfortable.
"I envisioned a place where a
husband and wife, girlfriend and
boyfriend, aunt and nephew could
come and feel at home and get their
hair done. Women don't typically go
to barber shops, but we want them
to feel at home," Reyes says.
He's grown the barber shop
to eight stylists, all through word
of mouth.
"When I opened up the shop, I
realized there was a lot more of me
out there," Reyes says. "I don't even
put out ads or anything. ey just
gravitate towards the shops. Felons,
guys that got looked down on,
people who felt they didn't belong,
somehow gravitate towards me.
With the right mentor, people can
really excel and really be inspired
and grow."
For small businesses,
diversity and inclusion
revealed in everyday
choices, actions
B y J e s s i c a H a l l
Grassroots
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