ENGLEWOOD — Rashanah Baldwin plans to sponsor a monthly speaker series at a place she said some of the best neighborhood discussions are held: a barbershop.
At 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 21, Baldwin will kick off her series at Powell's Barbershop, 1139 W. 63rd St., where she will moderate a one-hour discussion with residents on topics affecting Englewood. Those topics include Norfolk Southern's recent interest in the area, urban agriculture and real estate.
"I want Englewood residents to have a format to voice their concerns and learn how they can get more involved and invested in their community," said Baldwin, 29, who has lived in Englewood her whole life. "It also is an opportunity to talk about the good things in Englewood. Every time you look up Englewood is in the news and usually it is something negative."
She added that interest in Englewood seems to have increased lately.
"Whole Foods is coming to Englewood and Norfolk Southern is buying up land here," Baldwin said. "Everyone wants a piece of Englewood."
Baldwin, who works at the nonprofit Teamwork Englewood, said she hopes the meetings will be a more casual "conversation between residents" — not a typical community meeting.
The meeting will be held at Sunni Powell's barbershop for awhile before moving on to another local business, Baldwin said.
Powell, who also held a job fair at his shop recently, hopes the conversations will ultimately help local youths he said often hang out on the corner all day.
"I tell them [youths] all the time to pull up their pants, but I doubt if they're listening because their pants are still saggy," said Powell, who also lives in Englewood. "I see them stealing cell phones and then selling them to dishonest retailers who are not from the community."
To attend the free event, residents must RSVP by Nov. 20 by emailing Baldwin at rashanahb@gmail.com. More information on the series can be found here.
