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And For This I Am Grateful
Posted 02-18-2009 4:48 pm by

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Congrats to the James Alan Salon! They have been selected as the winner of the Healthy Community Corporate Champion Award for their amazing contributions to the region’s Neighborhoods and Communities. They will be featured in a special supplement to the May 8 issue of the Puget Sound Business Journal.

Recently the staff at James Alan Salon in Shoreline, WA did an amazing community outreach event for the residents of Tent City, a Seattle-area homeless camp. James Alan Owner Matthew Fairfax shares his story about giving back and reminding us that "we are not doing hair; we are touching lives and building esteem". 

What an incredible experience. Several weeks ago we were approached by community members asking if James Alan Salon would be willing to cut hair for the residents of Tent City. I'm ashamed to admit, my initial reaction was - "Homeless people in the salon, really?" And then I thought, "Will my team even want to participate in this event?" I forwarded the e-mail on to Keri who heads up a lot of our Community Outreach work and asked what she thought. Without hesitation she said of course we should do it. We've done homeless teens, why not Tent City. And with that, the ball was rolling.

The team from the James Alan salon. Within a week, we had our former co-owner, Keith McGlashan coming out of retirement for the day, 11 other team members, front desk team members and even an esthetician ready to participate. Shoreline Top Foods gave us muffins, Starbucks sent over coffee and treats, and Salon Services & Supplies NW donated a bunch of Brocato shampoo to send home with the participants.

As we prepared for the event, many of the clients verbalized some of the same internal feelings I had felt. Surprisingly, some expressed what most of us only thought. "What about lice?" or "Are you worried about theft?" Amazing what fear of the unknown can conjure up in our minds.

All of that disappeared in the first 5 minutes this morning. The first shuttle of Tent City residents showed up just before 10 a.m. The first thing we heard was - "Thank you so much for doing this - it means so much to us." One after another expressed their gratitude to the team. I was hooked.

Then came Faye. She walked in with her hair matted and looking as though she had just woken up. She took a cup of coffee, sat down and drank in silence - her head looking down. Her fellow Tent City neighbors kidding her, trying to wake her up. Eventually, she was ready to go with Andrea to get her hair done, refusing her picture being taken. Forty minutes later, out came Faye, radiant with silky smooth hair. The reaction in the lobby was awesome. Friends, stylist and Barb, the coordinator of the event, collectively ooo'd and awed over her hair. And the tears flowed down Faye's cheeks as she hugged Barb. At that moment it wasn't just Faye who was leaking tears. I was once again reminded that we are not doing hair; we are touching lives and building esteem. This was not to be the last emotional experience of the day. Time and again, the grateful Tent City residents left with a smile on their face and feeling just a little bit lighter. And each time my team felt gratitude for the opportunity to give back to our community.

It seems so easy to dismiss those members of Tent City as people who have chosen to live that way. To turn away or pretend it is not there. It's uncomfortable to have to face things we don't understand. I am so grateful that today I have a new perspective on my fellow citizens and new friends of Tent City.

Several years ago while talking with my minister, I told her I had always felt called to the ministry but for some reason just never really pursued it.

She asked me, "What makes you think you are not already doing your ministry?"

Today, I got it.

Every day, my team and I minister to people.

We don't do hair, we touch lives and for that I am grateful.

Matthew Fairfax, James Alan Salon

Matthew also runs Northern Torch Consulting and specializes in small business improvement, team building, employee retention, retreat facilitation and leadership skill development. Matthew is working with Salon Services to make our upcoming employee retreat a memorable event. 

Congrats to the James Alan Salon! They have been selected as the winner of the Healthy Community Corporate Champion Award for their amazing contributions to the region’s Neighborhoods and Communities. They will be featured in a special supplement to the May 8 issue of the Puget Sound Business Journal.

Recently the staff at James Alan Salon in Shoreline, WA did an amazing community outreach event for the residents of Tent City, a Seattle-area homeless camp. James Alan Owner Matthew Fairfax shares his story about giving back and reminding us that "we are not doing hair; we are touching lives and building esteem". 

What an incredible experience. Several weeks ago we were approached by community members asking if James Alan Salon would be willing to cut hair for the residents of Tent City. I'm ashamed to admit, my initial reaction was - "Homeless people in the salon, really?" And then I thought, "Will my team even want to participate in this event?" I forwarded the e-mail on to Keri who heads up a lot of our Community Outreach work and asked what she thought. Without hesitation she said of course we should do it. We've done homeless teens, why not Tent City. And with that, the ball was rolling.

The team from the James Alan salon. Within a week, we had our former co-owner, Keith McGlashan coming out of retirement for the day, 11 other team members, front desk team members and even an esthetician ready to participate. Shoreline Top Foods gave us muffins, Starbucks sent over coffee and treats, and Salon Services & Supplies NW donated a bunch of Brocato shampoo to send home with the participants.

As we prepared for the event, many of the clients verbalized some of the same internal feelings I had felt. Surprisingly, some expressed what most of us only thought. "What about lice?" or "Are you worried about theft?" Amazing what fear of the unknown can conjure up in our minds.

All of that disappeared in the first 5 minutes this morning. The first shuttle of Tent City residents showed up just before 10 a.m. The first thing we heard was - "Thank you so much for doing this - it means so much to us." One after another expressed their gratitude to the team. I was hooked.

Then came Faye. She walked in with her hair matted and looking as though she had just woken up. She took a cup of coffee, sat down and drank in silence - her head looking down. Her fellow Tent City neighbors kidding her, trying to wake her up. Eventually, she was ready to go with Andrea to get her hair done, refusing her picture being taken. Forty minutes later, out came Faye, radiant with silky smooth hair. The reaction in the lobby was awesome. Friends, stylist and Barb, the coordinator of the event, collectively ooo'd and awed over her hair. And the tears flowed down Faye's cheeks as she hugged Barb. At that moment it wasn't just Faye who was leaking tears. I was once again reminded that we are not doing hair; we are touching lives and building esteem. This was not to be the last emotional experience of the day. Time and again, the grateful Tent City residents left with a smile on their face and feeling just a little bit lighter. And each time my team felt gratitude for the opportunity to give back to our community.

It seems so easy to dismiss those members of Tent City as people who have chosen to live that way. To turn away or pretend it is not there. It's uncomfortable to have to face things we don't understand. I am so grateful that today I have a new perspective on my fellow citizens and new friends of Tent City.

Several years ago while talking with my minister, I told her I had always felt called to the ministry but for some reason just never really pursued it.

She asked me, "What makes you think you are not already doing your ministry?"

Today, I got it.

Every day, my team and I minister to people.

We don't do hair, we touch lives and for that I am grateful.

 

Matthew Fairfax, James Alan Salon

Matthew also runs Northern Torch Consulting and specializes in small business improvement, team building, employee retention, retreat facilitation and leadership skill development. Matthew is working with Salon Services to make our upcoming employee retreat a memorable event. 


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