Community Outreach
Dewayne Harrington grew up in Flint's Evergreen-Regency townhome. A product of his environment, by age 16 he was robbing people, but it was his stepfather, Calvin Banks Sr. who showed him a way to constructively harness his restless energy.
Calvin had odd side jobs like car tinkering and cutting hair in the Howard Estates Apartment Complex. He encouraged Harrington to give the clippers a try and before long Harrington grew his own neighborhood clientele.
Despite his hard upbringing, he kept the clippers in his hands and made a career out of it and it kept him out of the streets... That’s how the clippers saved his life. He took the clippers, got a job and started making other people feel good.
After attending barber school, “Wayne the Barber” Harrington would become the owner of Park Place Hair Studio alongside his wife Tiana Harrington. The studio allowed them to branch out in their community by offering haircuts to those in need in partnering with Carriage Town Missions, Baker College, My Brother's Keeper and Flint and Genesee Chamber of Commerce Job Fair.
For 10 years and counting, the Harrington's, along with Z92.7 FM sponsors a large back-to-school rally, in which they offer free haircuts, hair shampoos & styles, with backpacks, and school supplies. Most of all, the Harrington's were able to launch How the Clippers Saved My Life Youth Mentoring Program in early 2019 at Job Corp.
The Harrington's have now expanded the mentorship program to the Boys and Girls Club, Michigan Rehabilitation Services and Way Academy charter school.