(James Seo | Amplify Utah) Barber Cameron Dean gave free haircuts to Alex and other people experience homelessness in downtown Salt Lake City in the spring of 2021.

When Cameron Dean was learning to become a barber, a friend took him on an excursion to Salt Lake City’s streets. Together, they offered free haircuts to men living in encampments and other homeless communities.

It was a small gesture, but the impact was immediate, recalled Dean, who works at Hair Lab+ Studios in Millcreek.

“To see how happy these cuts can make people,” he said, ‘it’s truly amazing.”

Recognizing the barriers COVID-19 brought to those experiencing homelessness, Dean saw an opportunity to bring his shears back to the streets earlier this year.

Salt Lake Community College journalism student James Seo joined Dean. Watch Seo’s video, produced in partnership with Amplify Utah.

 

James Seo wrote this story as a journalism student at Salt Lake Community College. It is published as part of a collaborative including nonprofits Amplify Utah and The Salt Lake Tribune.

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We also request organizations include the following text either at the beginning or end of the story text :This story is jointly published by nonprofits Amplify Utah and [Your Media Organization's Name] to elevate diverse perspectives in local media through emerging journalism. James Seo wrote this story as a journalism student at Salt Lake Community College. For more stories from Amplify Utah, visit amplifyutah.org/use-our-work.

 

 

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