Rhandyl: [00:00:00] Hey y'all. Welcome back. We have Vernon Jackson with us today. He's also known as the Purpose-Driven Barber. Vernon's doing some truly meaningful work. He gives free haircuts to neurodivergent kids. He meets them exactly where they are and makes sure they feel safe and respected. I love watching your videos and a few of them I know have gone viral and you are just. Such an awesome person. From what I can see, I can't wait to talk more like his chair. It's more than a barber's chair. It's a man, a place of patience and purpose.

We're gonna learn from Vernon how this mission started and what he's learned along the way and just how a simple haircut can really change. Lives, whether that be the kids' lives or his life, or, I just can't wait to hear more. So Vernon, you wanna start out with just telling us a little bit about yourself, where you're from, anything you'd like to share before we get into everything? 

Vernon: Yeah, for [00:01:00] sure. Uh, so, uh, again, Vernon Jackson and I'm, uh, born and raised here in Cincinnati, Ohio. And, you know, I come from, and my background was like I got into haircut because it was a. Option to do. I didn't know if I wanted to go to college. And , I didn't want to make regular college student money. So I just made sure I got me a craft of some sort. I always had an artistic background from being a visual artist, like painting or drawing, like portraits things of that nature.

And so it was. I got into haircutting, or I was licensed, or I'm licensed as a cosmetologist and I went to a vocational school, which saved my life. You know, I didn't, I didn't, it was, is when I say purpose driven barber mean that I had no idea what the purpose of my life was, but there was a purpose for my life. Yeah. And so where, you know, I, I didn't go to college. I knew I wanna have that I can fall back on in the event that didn't happen. And so while I was in the discovery place of how I can, create my [00:02:00] own brand, my own, you know, tie my, put myself up on my own bootstraps, if you will. Yeah. Mm-hmm. 

Uh, I did poetry. I put on showcases. I was a performer. I did modeling, I did acting. I did quite a few commercials. I did, no, I'm very active. Mm-hmm. Did, Did parties and just, you know, just living out my life that way. And so cutting hair was always a sponsor for me when it came to cutting kids. It was just, you know, when it hit me cutting kids, it just happened. I. A part of the job, but I never really liked cutting kids hair.

Rhandyl: It's funny, we have similar stories about like things that we, thought we would never do. And then it just happens and ends up being for a purpose. But yeah. Right, right. So was there a specific moment that opened your eyes to. The needs of neurodivergent children and , their families, or how did that get started? 

Vernon: I mean, it all came from a place where, uh, parents would book their kids [00:03:00] haircuts. They would never specified that their child had different needs. So they, you know, in my profession, you know, our time is money yeah. And so, blocking pricing, being efficient, uh, put more money in our pockets. And so when a parent would, with their child's appointment, which I have kids blocked off or. 15 minute time slots. Yeah. And I'm a time, and I'm a time nut. You know, get you ready, get you out. You know what I'm saying? Boom, boom, boom. Yeah. So don't ask. So I, I learned how to communicate in a way to ask questions efficiently to get the answers I need to get the service done, and we get up out, right? Mm-hmm. 

So you, so we have preparing that book, a neuro divergent child, they pop up and the kid is spritzing.

Rhandyl: Yeah. You're not gonna get, you're not gonna get that 15 minutes No. 

Vernon: Right. Like they're stemming and whatnot. Yeah. Mm-hmm. You know, and then they'll show up about five minutes before they haircut because they get their book after school. Oh. So now I'm here like. [00:04:00] And I finally get them to the charity.

And the parent has expectations about how to want their kids' hair cut. Like, do you see your child? Do you not see what's I'm not gonna be to give your child the haircut. Yeah. So outta the fact that I got tired of being out control mm-hmm. And not and being in a reactive place and, and family center, they, kept getting kicked outta barbershops and salons. Oh my gosh. Or they were, you know, those type of experiences. . I didn't wanna be another, no. Mm-hmm. Right. And so I said to myself, I don't know. I don't really want to do this, but I know that I can do this, but at least, and I didn't, want them to have to keep going to someone that didn't care. Yeah. So I knew that me being the kind of person that I am, that, that I could at least do it from a place of love. Whether I wanted to do it or not. , I knew that I will always. Do it from a place of love. And that's all. That's how it started. 

Rhandyl: Wow. So you did out of a place of love. So what about your personal experiences, shaped the [00:05:00] way that you kind of transition into this, role for these kids? 

Vernon: So in, in, in terms of personality wise, character wise, I mean, I've always been a goofy person. You know, I'm silly, you know, I have a, have a short attention span at times. You know, like, you know, it is like, you know, the saying that, your personality or characteristics may be a problem in this world, but it's a blessing in this world. Mm-hmm. Anywhere , I'm a person that is. Independent. , I, , I would rather be in control if I don't trust who's controlling mm-hmm. The narrative. And I willing do the work for that. , I'm just a person that's like, that's, that's willing to figure it out. Mm-hmm.

And so, so when it came to the kids, it's like, listen, I don't, I'm not trained in this, but I'm willing to figure it out with you. Yeah. Yeah. I dunno if I answer your question, but. 

Rhandyl: No, that makes sense. And it's funny that you, like, just the way you're describing yourself, it's like you probably can empathize empathize with these kids that may have these.

Of [00:06:00] course. All kids have short attention spans, but, their sensory needs. Like, it seems like you come from a place that you can definitely, and you're funny, like it's just watching your videos and. And the way the kids, you know, end up reacting to you., It's just really cool. Yeah. So, okay. When you started this, I'm curious, did you get like, pushback, when you started to do things a little differently? 

Vernon: No, uh, only pushback I've ever experienced. If, if we can call up pushback or, people feeling as if I was, you know, using the, the kids to make money.

Deonna: Oh, yeah. 

Vernon: Supporting kids. Mm-hmm. You know what I'm saying? That type. And kids, people are like, oh, I like, the kids don't have a say so to be, you know, da da da, that type of thing. And so, yeah. You know, I'm like, yeah, whatever. Yeah. You know what I'm saying? I, I used to I, you know, every now and again, I, , I always I just to make [00:07:00] sure that , I exude. And I'm a real person. Yeah. And I love hard and I just as much as a, as a I, I, I love from a full from a real place. Mm-hmm. But at the same time, i'm not, I'm not here to, I'm not here to play with you. Mm-hmm. I'm not here to add up to people's imagination of me. Yeah. Mm-hmm. And it put me into a prison. Mm-hmm. Right. Uh, an expectation that they themselves do not add up to. Yeah. I'm not, I'm not going to do that. I'm not gonna play those games.

And, you know, and so that's why in, and, in the videos, I'm not just showing me. Being successful with a haircut. I'm so odd, you know? Yeah. I have to hold a, I gotta hold a kid down. I got back to, yeah. I got, I got back to working out. Seriously, because I have to be having endurance to be here to keep up with different kids, you know? 

Rhandyl: Well, in the way you describe yourself, you're real, like you're a person. Mm-hmm. Like you said, and that's your handle , on Instagram is where I see you most. The real one. And It's so true. 

Deonna: I think it's [00:08:00] funny how you're talking because a minute ago when you were talking about everything, just you were like, I have to figure this out. I can do it and I'm just gonna figure it out.

I mean, that was what I kept telling myself as a parent of a newly paralyzed child. Like I was like, I don't wanna do this. Obviously she's my kid. I'm going to do this, I can do this. And then. I've done all these other things because of that, but it's just, you have to figure it out. Like we're not all just born with these talents all the time. I mean, you have to figure some of these things out and just be willing to try. But when I hear you talking, you kind of sound like how we feel. 

Yeah, yeah. And it's like funny. Maybe you hang out with people like us a lot, but that's how we are too. Which I've changed a lot, but I'm just very like, it is what it is. I'm not going to protect your feelings or anything. No. Like this is my reality and if you can't handle it. You're not meant for me, you [00:09:00] know, as a, a relationship period. And so, it is funny hearing you say this. Maybe you've just been hanging out with us too long and now we've like rubbed off on you or something. 

Vernon: But, but I tell people that's why I, I love working with neurodivergent kids. I'm a direct person. I don't play. And, you know, I hate the fact with people, just trying to, save face and say what? Mm-hmm. You know, sugarcoat know what sugarcoat, you know, I'm like, mm-hmm. Oh no, you wasted my time. 

Yeah. Mm-hmm. Yeah. That exactly how we, how I feel. That's kids. I'm like, I'm like, perfect. We speak the same language. Let's talk. Let's go. Mm-hmm. Alright. Yeah. High five. No. Yeah. Fair enough. I respect it. You know what I'm saying? Yeah. Parents don't make, no, you don't gotta make them shake my hand. They don't wanna be here. You know what I'm saying? They're operating, they're communicating fully from the place that they are. Right.

That's a problem with a lot of adults. I hear a lot of people, they're been so coddled with attention and for their emotions, they have no ability on how [00:10:00] to handle real life communication. Mm-hmm. And so that's why, even with the kids, I say, listen, as I'm talking with them through the haircut. I tell them, listen, I get it. Even that crime, I listen. I understand, I know. Mm-hmm. I do get it. But they pause. Gimme a high fo I'm not against you. Gimme a hug. Come here. Mm-hmm. I know. We gotta get this done though. Yeah. We gotta, we gotta get this done at the end of the day. Yeah. We gotta, it's gotta get done. You can hate me all you want, but you, you can hate that haircut, but love me. Yeah. Yeah. That's, and that's what it is. You know, and a lot of kids, when they walk in, you know, after their first haircut, whatever, , they're excited to see me. They just hate my tools. Yeah, you, yeah. They're like, like, hey. Like, no, no, no, no, 

Deonna: no. Oh my gosh. Well, and it's, I mean, it's like the same as when we take our kids in to have like a medical procedure. They might like the nurse or the doctor, but like one of the doctors that [00:11:00] lives here, he's one of my daughter's favorite doctors. She loves him. But she also is always telling him, I hate coming in here 'cause you're gonna hurt me. Mm-hmm. And I mean, he does hurt her every time, But it's just like, yeah, you can love the person, but not like what's happening to you. Yes, 

Vernon: exactly. Exactly. I mean, at least if I'm, if you go be in a place where you don't want to be at mm-hmm. Exactly. Getting what you don't wanna have done, at least be a good person. Mm-hmm. You know what I'm saying? Yeah, and we, it'd be a personal good standing, like, you know what I'm saying? I don't. 

Mm-hmm. Like, I don't always make, you know, there's like, I had a, I had a kid come in one time and . We had a great initial connection and whatnot, but. We got the, you know, I, we got the cutting his hair and he was like, my hair. It was probably the first time I, I kind of felt bad for doing a cut, you know what I'm saying? Yeah. Doing a bus cut. [00:12:00] But it was one of things where it was like, listen, , if you're coming to me, you're having a real problem with the haircut. 

Deonna: Yes. 

Vernon: You're having a real problem with the hair, whether it's, it's keeping it clean or whatever's going on, right? And I say every video. If I, if, if they won't allow me to do a, or sit still enough to allow me to do a designer cut like a fade or yeah. That type of thing. I'm not gonna spend 45 minutes trying to dodge and get to Sure. To do the proper haircut. Like a coated cut. Yeah. Yeah. 

You know, and so even though I had my system that I could still lean on and be cool with, but emotionally I still felt bad for it. Yeah that because he, he loved his hair. You know what I'm saying? He loved his hair and so yeah. So those that, that was probably one of the, one of the moments that was like, yeah, i'm just saying keep his hair, if he's fine with it, if he can watch it, keep it, you know what I'm saying? Like, we're just gonna grow it out, keep 

Rhandyl: Well, you [00:13:00] know, you know, but a lot of these kids, they do have. So much sensory processing going on. Like I work with kids every day. I do pediatric physical therapy in the homes, and, I see quite a few neurodivergent children , and, some of the biggest complaints that.

Parents have is like the grooming and like, they hate the hair brushing, they hate the washing. And a lot of these kids, they do end up just needing a buzz cut at the end of the day. Parents might not want it, kids might not want it, but it, it's save less maintenance. Yeah. It's, it saves, you know, a huge hassle on for a daily routine. Yes. Um, yeah. 

Vernon: It's a fight. Like, like I, I tell parents like, why would you wanna fight every day? Yes. No. . , Like you're stressed out . 'cause you're trying to find a happy medium mm-hmm. And negotiate with a child. Mm-hmm. You not, you like, no, you know, it doesn't work. Usually I tell parents that, you know, that I [00:14:00] work with, like, at the end of the day, you the parent. At the end of the day, yes, the child has feelings and X, y, and Z, but they goes out the window when, when things gotta get done, right? 

Mm-hmm. And, and you leave it up to the child, they would never be ready, you know? You know they will never, they will fight tooth and nail. Mm-hmm. Yeah. To not have to be ready. Right. I'm like, the child is gonna cry. Mm-hmm. Without your permission. Yeah. For whatever they want. So at least have them cry in a direction that you need them to go to, right? Mm-hmm. You know, that makes sense. At least, you know what I'm saying? Like that habit, like, yo, like you gonna cry anyway. It gotta get done. I still love you. Mm. Yeah. You know this, know what I'm saying? Like, but this is going to get done.

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Rhandyl: 30 minutes of crying through a haircut , I would think is worth the. Daily battles that you were gonna have prior to that or that you did have? Yeah. So 

Deonna: well, and we make that I think our kids, we have to make our kids as parents of disabled kids, we have to make 'em [00:16:00] do a million things they don't wanna do. Like all the time. Yeah. I mean, it's very different than your average parenting situation. Like my daughter is constantly having to do things she doesn't wanna do.

Yeah. And I feel like as the life goes on, that list of things she doesn't wanna do is just getting, and she's not even neurodivergent, but she does wanna do stuff like, and you're just like, oh my gosh, like. Even getting a haircut. We have a nurse come in that has her cosmetology license that used to work for us, and she comes in and cuts her hair. 'Cause the idea of going into the salon and having to explain and, you know, all that like yeah. Working around the chair and all that.

We did dye my daughter's hair pink last year and bleached it out, dyed it pink. I will never do that again. That was like a eight hour process or something. It was crazy. And so fair enough. I told her, we'll do some little strips or something. We are never doing. Oh my gosh. 

Vernon: That's crazy. 

Deonna: That was, That was what [00:17:00] you call a mistake. She loved it though.

So explain to people who are listening, who, you know, neurodivergence is things like autism and things like that for people that don't know, but, , among other things, but what, what makes it so hard for these kids to get their hair cut? Like what have you learned from your experiences with them? 

Vernon: Um, what's cool about it is, is. It's all rooted in fear of the unknown. Don't get me wrong. They are consistently sensitive in the same areas. Really across the board of all a lot of kids. I cut my ears back of the neck. Mm-hmm. You know? That makes sense. Yeah. You know, so, either tickles or, or because the vibration, then, because the Clippers, different tools vibrate at a different frequency. The sound of the clippers make. Via the vibration. Mm-hmm. They're being [00:18:00] close to their ear or something like that. There all these type of things that may set off their system triggers. Yeah. 

Deonna: It's loud too. 

Vernon: Yeah. You know what I'm saying? And I found with some very quiet, but still powerful clippers. Mm-hmm. And , but, you know, and that is a journey in, in and of itself. . 

So what also makes it hard is the fact that with the bigger thing outside of that, outside of the tools and their ve and their sensitivities is an idea of what they think is happening. Yeah. 

Because, you talk to some kids like, you know, like if you're cutting the hair, you cut off a piece of them, you know? Yeah. And, or, or if you're gonna cut them or, um, it's a foreign object. It's a, it's a whole lot of things that are happening. And so I tell people that are neurotypical, like adults or what? I said, you know, it's in my videos like. Their fear is on the outside. But we all have a fear of experiencing a part of life that we've never experienced before. 

And we will never [00:19:00] experienced, even if it's for for us to take the best experience out that being human beings. Yeah. But we won't deal because we're afraid. Yeah. And so, so the bigger thing, the biggest, the bigger ministry here is that I try to communicate to people is that I get to literally walk with children from where they are. Mm-hmm. From a place of fear. With the love. Mm-hmm. Yeah. To being more confident and being more secure and, , to eventually saying. Hey, I wanna go see Mr. Vernon. I wanna get your haircut. Haircut. Mm-hmm. You know, like they, they don't know a lot of words. They know haircut and me. 

Deonna: Yeah. Mm-hmm. That's so cool. 

Vernon: So, yeah. And so, but that's what absolute love does when you're loving from a place to serve. Mm-hmm. And the reality is, is that, in any relationship, relationships always excel when [00:20:00] people are. To serve the bigger picture and serving the other, person. Mm-hmm. And it's only when we become selfish that it all falls apart. Mm-hmm. You know what I'm saying? Yeah. 

And so, you know, either one person becomes selfish and most because it, it is how it is, how it happens. And so I literally get to see, what love does, and I'm only giving the love that I receive from God, like the same love and patience that. I, I had to like do inventory on and see how God has showed up and showed out for me and being patient with me and yeah. Mm-hmm. Through the process where I had no idea what I was doing or the mistakes that I was making and still make, or I'm like, yo

I was watching a clip of, of Jelly Roll today. And, um, uh, as an interview, and one thing he said at the end is that God would make it make sense. Yeah. And, I posted that quote. Mm-hmm. [00:21:00] I didn't give him credit for it because I think it was from the Holy Spirit. So I said, it's a, it's a God thing.

Rhandyl: You know, I I, I love that because I, as you were talking earlier, I was thinking like, okay, he didn't like to do kids cuts. He didn't really wanna do this. He didn't like it. But you felt like. It was something that you, where , I'm assuming you were being called from God to do this.

Mm-hmm. And so, you know, Deonna and I talk a lot on our podcast. We're both Christians and there's so many, I mean, just like she said earlier, we didn't choose, we didn't plan, we didn't want to have, our daughters be disabled. But there's a purpose, , that we've found and. Our faith has grown so much through that experience in and of itself.

And so, I'm glad to hear you share that. And because. It's pretty obvious that just watching how you interact and how you care and love for [00:22:00] these kids, that it, it's not just you that mm-hmm. That God's leading you yeah. 

Deonna: Well, and it is so cool. 'cause, I've thought about this a lot.

Like when you think about these gifts that God's given you and how you're gonna. Do how you're gonna use them or whatever. And usually you think of it as these really stereotypical type gifts. Like, oh, I could like teach, or I could do this, or I could make food for people. But like you are showing that you can use your job and your career to make a huge.

Impact for people who really are honestly super stressed all the time. Just need to sit down. Like one of the things that stuck out to me in a lot of your videos was like, you know, you were letting the mom or the dad or the, just whoever is their guardian, go sit down. And I saw them keep getting up and trying to like do all the work for you, and you were like, it's okay.

You can sit down. Because that's how I always feel like I'm freaking out trying to like. You know, diffuse a situation or you know, make my [00:23:00] kid okay. And I feel like the best providers in any genre like yours or medical or whatever they are like, no, it's okay. We got it. And you're like, oh, okay. , 'Cause that's really intimidating for y'all to step into that and you. Take over a little bit for us.

Yeah. You, you're not like scared of it. Oh. But a lot of people are, even people in the medical field, they just are like, mom, can you get over here? And you're like, oh my gosh. Like, just seriously, like, I just don't wanna do this for you right now.

Vernon: Yeah. But you know, and, and that's why I tell even, even parents that, you know, come through, I'm like, listen. At one point I, I pissed off before I got into this space where I'm in right now. Mm-hmm. Before I started doing it, get to the event, I pissed off quite a few neuro birds and parents, you know what I'm saying? Oh yeah. Because I like, no, I don't wanna cut your kids' hair. Yeah. He's mean. He's mean. He's crying. My ears hurt and I'm gonna try and get out of this as soon as possible. Yeah. Okay. [00:24:00] Like, you know, so, you know, 

Deonna: that's hilarious. 

Vernon: Like, like, that's why I have to make it very clear about, about where I was and how I was mm-hmm. And what I did not want to do. So that people really understand how much God's hand is going to work them. Mm-hmm. You know what I'm saying? Like, I don't, I don't deserve any kind. That's why I'm moving. I don't, people know me, like, I don't move, like I, I don't move like someone whose face has been. Globally mm-hmm. Shared. Mm-hmm. Yeah. And whose work is makes this the impact? Yeah. That it has in the inboxes that I get from people and, you know, that's like every, now I share the message that people send me. Mm-hmm. I don't, I don't move like that kind of person. Mm-hmm. I know who the glory goes to. Yeah. You know what I'm saying? 

Deonna: Mm-hmm. Yeah. You're a vessel. 

Vernon: Yeah. Like mm-hmm. You know, God's like, listen everything that I did beforehand, like doing spoken word poetry, the open mics of poetry, [00:25:00] gave me the avenue to be able to think through my thoughts. Mm-hmm. Feel my feelings and then be able to articulate them. Mm-hmm. Right. Yeah. 

And now I can do the same thing when I'm talking about parents and the parent and the experience of the demographic I get to work with. Mm-hmm. From a place of not being someone that grew up with it, but from a place who's been able to witness it and have an emotional connection and understanding. Of the human experience through that lens. Mm-hmm. And articulate it, right? Yeah. 

Being a, being a model, being an actor, being in front of the camera had taught me to be able to be present when that time really came, when my video started going viral, and I'm being interviewed by CNN and Good Morning America today, and just for Hudson Show and all those things, I was already camera ready when that time came, you know?

So everything I've been through, I have been. Being the dojo and, mm-hmm. And back to what Jelly Roll, I said earlier, God made everything I've done. Make sense? 

Deonna: Yeah. Well, it's true. I [00:26:00] mean, it is funny when you look back on your life, I've done that too. Like I've thought about things that happened to me or things that I knew right before my daughter got hurt and you're like. Whoa. That was weird how these things were all falling into place and I didn't know yeah. What was happening, but it was happening, you know? So it's, 

Rhandyl: yeah. He has a map. 

Deonna: It's crazy. Yeah. He, he knows what's going on, on, we don't, 

Rhandyl: we're just little, uh, pieces moving, um mm-hmm. He's our, yeah, he's our guide.

Deonna:  So what do parents usually say to you after you have, you know, successfully cut their kids' hair? Maybe for the first time ever? You know, 

Vernon: how much is it? 

Deonna: Oh, really? They don't know coming into it. 

Vernon: They know. But they really, but they can't comprehend being given the service mm-hmm. That they've been waiting so long for [00:27:00] mm-hmm. In the way they've been needing to be given to them. 

Deonna: Yeah. 

Vernon: You know what I'm saying? And that is, you know, which, you know, I remember one time at, um, uh, the church I used to go to the pastor said one time, like, freely give and freely receive. And, you know, and that's it. Like, you know, I'm like, like how do you feel so empty from giving so much then when someone trying to take care of you or give you some place of love, you say no. Mm-hmm. Like it makes sense. Yeah. 

You know what I'm saying? That's why you feel empty. 

Deonna: It's like a pride thing, I think. I don't know what it is. 

Vernon: Of course, of course. Yeah. So, but that's why I have enough goal to be like, Hey, get up my pay stop. No, I want no tip. I want No, I'm fine. , Listen. God has me very well taken care of. Mm-hmm. Very well. Mm-hmm. And beyond all I could ever ask for. Think I get emotion thinking about right now. Mm-hmm. To be in a place [00:28:00] where people like every part of what I do. Is giving and experience from outside and with everybody else, including myself, is giving and experience from the same place that I said to y'all earlier, why I got into a no. I could. I could do that. At least I can do it a place of love.

My videos have been viewed probably will over a billion times. Mm-hmm. Yeah. You know what I'm saying? And I was last year alone. I think my videos I did total of like 260 million Wow. Views between all the platforms that I operate, that's not even a mention. Mm-hmm. All the people who may share the content. Yeah. Yeah. That, you know what I'm saying? And put it on their, on their own pages. Yeah. Like, I really can't but I don't have a billion dollars. Anyone doesn't donate, you know what I'm saying? Mm-hmm. 

Yeah. But the, those who, but the, those that do, they're literally given from a place of love. [00:29:00] Mm-hmm. And they, and they, they're sending notes and they're like, Hey I just want you to be happy. You deserve, you know what I'm saying? All those things and experiencing that. So, so now when I, I so I can buy things for myself and enjoy life. Mm-hmm. Knowing that I'm really making a difference in, in the world. I don't have to feel guilty for buying what I want and enjoying my life. Mm-hmm. And like all the things, like, you know what I'm saying? Yeah. Like, it's really, it's really cool to be where. I always wanted to be, but I didn't know how I would get here. 

Deonna: Yeah. Well, and I like that, you know, in your industry I see cosmetology people making. Like outrageous amounts of money, and especially in the influencer space. I mean, it's like you, you know what I'm saying? Like there's the potential for that, but you're going a different route.

And I think it's really cool because. You have enough you're feeling okay [00:30:00] about that, but it's, it's serving all these people and it's making this impact that's not just for yourself and your, bank account or whatever. So it's really cool that you're going that route, because you could be doing it the other way and probably, you know, doing that the other way. But 

Rhandyl: yeah. I'm curious what. Responsibility. Do you feel like businesses should have in creating mm-hmm. A more inclusive environment? I mean, you're doing it with a barbershop, so like Yeah. We both know this world is so not inclusive. , But you're doing it in such a unique way. Do you have any thoughts on to how other businesses could. Provide similar inclusive environments. Mm-hmm. 

Vernon: Yeah. You know what? I would say, honestly, for me it was coming in, initially coming in once a month on my day off. For five hours. Yeah. Instead of probably 15 minutes allotted for a child. 30 minutes. I do it for 30 minutes. I know. At [00:31:00] least if it take me 20 minutes to get through them stemming and not wanting to, you know what I'm saying, like week mm-hmm.

Next to me and not giving, not caring. I got that last 10 minute mark. I got two options. Either something's gonna switch and they'll like, okay. Or we gotta hold you down and we're gonna take your thing off. Okay. You know what I'm saying? But doing what comes easy for you and to you, giving enough of it to the people that can appreciate it. Who need it the most. Yeah. You know what I'm saying?

Like, yeah. Mm-hmm. It, it just serious because you not, you don't, you're not losing nothing. You know, me, I, I just didn't want to come out. I love my days off. My time off are precious drain. You know what I'm saying? Like what? 

Deonna: You're on your feet? My feet all the time. 

Vernon: Yeah. I talk to people, I'm like. For the first three weeks of the year I take off and do a vacation. Yeah. Like, I'm like, you know, I don't know. No body is in [00:32:00] my, in my, in my profession that does that. Mm-hmm. You know, like, 

Deonna: right. Well y'all are like therapists. I mean, I tell my girl that cuts my hair. She knows every detail in my entire life. Yeah. I mean, you know, you have to listen to all their crazy stuff and I mean, it's probably mentally like physically exhaust. You're standing up all day exhaust and then mentally you're having to listen to everyone's problems and be like, oh, crazy. All together. Oh my gosh. 

Vernon: Be honest. The physical, the mental, the emotional, spiritual, all and all ties together. Mm-hmm. And especially with what I do, that's not, I don't do what I do. Five days a week. I don't. Right. I do it. I do it in a way that, that I can, have time to myself. Yeah. emotionally aware. Where we be rejuvenated and to do work. No, 

Rhandyl: because if you got burned out, I mean, you would burn out and you wouldn't be able to provide the love for your clients. Um, yeah, it'd don't, it'd be give yourself space. Yeah. Yeah. 

Vernon: It'd be, I, I don't, I don't wanna feel like, that's why my prayer, you know, Deanna, even, even as I answered this question, response, this question, this [00:33:00] response I'm gonna say is for both these moments, that my prayers, I only want what's mine.

Mm-hmm. Right? I don't like I do like, I do enough with enough. It's like, listen. Mm-hmm. My bills are paid. I can move how I wanna move, I can travel. When I wanna travel, you know, I can buy what I wanna buy. I can have the time I want to have. I can do everything I'm doing. Why the hell do I need all that? Mm-hmm. And, and now I don't have a piece of my hell, I have a, you know, it's, it's, it's a, it's a process managing that, which I have right now. Yeah. You know what I'm saying?

And so, so why would I wanna have these like the ego would say, I don't care. I don't care. Mm-hmm. I don't, because, because I'm not I'm like, I get fulfillment. By the work that I do. And from the work that I do, I get to enjoy my life in this area. Mm-hmm. And, and from a place of joy. Mm-hmm. And so I, so as my light is shining, as I'm happy, I mean other people's happy. It is how it is. You know what I'm saying? Like, yeah. Even my, even my didn't have a lot of things going on. I was [00:34:00] still living life from a place of joy mm-hmm.

You know, no one knows the time before. My videos went viral, that it wasn't one of the toughest years of my life as an adult. You know, I was going through, I was buying out my partner in in the shop. That was stressful. Going through that process and being in that environment. I still had to manage all my clients. I would do my. 55 to 60 plus haircuts a week, man. I was doing like, you know what I'm saying? Those interpersonal conversations, managing my social media. Yeah. I, I released two books, so I was managing the sales of that.

Mm-hmm. You know what I'm saying? I mention dating family. You know what I'm saying? Like all these layers of thinking. By the end of the year, the person that was helping me out a lot at the beginning with doing the, my program or some capacity or another, we got into a, a disagreement mm-hmm. That she says how she thought she was being a part of the, uh, the process. Mm-hmm. And she, and she jumped out. And on my birthday of that year, and not to ministry, I moved [00:35:00] into this house. Oh my gosh. The, , the day that we had the, one of the biggest ice storms. That we've had ever. Mm-hmm. So moved and snow.

And so by end of the year, I, I depleted the savings I had, I had, you know, depleted my emotions. Exhausted. Yeah. And by the first of year, I was so happy the year was done, but I was broke. You know what I'm saying? Mm-hmm. You so, you know, like, it was like that's, that was a space I had gotten. I was, I, I was like, boom. But I was not living. And from a place of worry, you know what I'm saying? Mm-hmm. And then a month later, my vehicle goes viral and I raised over $40,000 in a week. Man. 

Rhandyl: It's amazing. You know what I'm saying? Mm-hmm. And so all work, 

Vernon: so, so also, so I did the numbers. The money, I raised and the work I do outside, not just me doing the haircuts, it's also the managing side of the business of it. Things I do to make sure that things run smoothly. The being online, communicating with [00:36:00] people, communicating with, keeping with parents the editing of the videos, all that stuff. 

Rhandyl: Oh yeah. A lot of behind the scenes work 

Vernon: that, that support so much, you know, it's just like a light bulb, right? Everybody sees the light, but what makes the light work? It's hidden in the darkness of the casing. Mm-hmm. Of the hidden, right? Yeah. Mm-hmm. And so, but when I did the numbers, I deed zeroed out of like my output versus how much , I was getting paid Don do donations. Yeah. So, so what, so it's like mm-hmm. Like, mm, yeah. I'm a real person.

I have no problem sharing. Mm-hmm. And, and establishing, but I don't, there's no. If anything, I want people to take from these interviews that I do and and whatnot, is that what said God? Make it make sense? Mm-hmm. You gotta mind your business. Yeah. Just mind your business, you know what I'm saying? And trust. And move forward and do your best you can. And if you pissed, be pissed. You know what I'm saying? If you angry, it don't feel [00:37:00] bad for being human. Mm-hmm. Don't feel bad for, you know what I'm saying? Like, especially the parents, like, if you lose your patience, mm-hmm. You know what I'm saying? Like, okay. We all have a life. We all do. You know what I'm saying? Yeah, exactly. And, and give yourself grace. Mm-hmm. Right. Come back, learn from it and then, you know, make adjustments. Yeah. 

And take it. And definitely take your time. However you gotta get it. Whatever you gotta get the, have some time of yourself to, if you guys wanna to watch your child for an hour mm-hmm. Or whatever you can do in a time. That you can just be present. Yeah. With you and for you. No, that's true. Know what I'm saying? True. Like because y'all be doing Yeah. Y'all have to, even when you're not doing nothing in your head, you're doing something. Yeah. So you never really being present, never stops.

And because the problems when listen, because if you die today, the problem will still be there tomorrow. Yeah. So at least kid gonna. At least have them cry in a direction [00:38:00] that you, that you need to go in. Mm-hmm. So for you, if life is still gonna happen, if there's not a dire need, go take yourself out of your life for however amount of time you can. To just think about nothing. Yeah. And just do. No, not needed. It's great advice. Great advice.

Deonna: It's really important for parents of disabled kids to do that. And it is hard like at the beginning when you're trying to just figure it all out, but yeah, yeah. There's times, I mean, we were, we were in the house with my kids for five days straight 'cause there was that ice storm and. By the end of it, I was like, oh my gosh. I like and I love my kids. And I posted a video joking around about being in the house with my kids for five days and some people got really upset with me over that. And it was like, it was just like supposed to be funny. But some people aren't funny people, so they get really butt hurt about everything but.

It was funny because, parents, regular parents get kind of like, oh my gosh, I'm burned out a little bit. But we [00:39:00] really get like really emotionally burned out. I mean, it's like it can get pretty bad. Mm-hmm. And yeah, I was really happy when they all went on their merry way to school. Oh yes. Like five days later I was like, leave me. I need to sit down and read my book and drink my tea and not be a mom for a while. Yes. Oh my gosh. 

Vernon: It, it's still work. It's still, it's still work. Oh, it's, mm-hmm. Work is work no matter 

Deonna: what. It's, yeah. A lot no matter what. Yeah. There's a lot of it.

Rhandyl: So Vernon, how have you seen kids grow more confident over time through your work with their haircuts? 

Vernon: It just, you know, the switch from when they didn't want to get a hair cut and whatnot to them, that first time they walk into the shop. Yeah. They walk into the get, they walk into the get to event space and they walk into the, they step into the tree themselves. Mm-hmm. That's awesome. You know what I'm saying? Like, we like, like, I'm like, [00:40:00] oh my gosh. I would be like that. Okay. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. 

Rhandyl: Well, I'm sure you, I wonder if, I've also wondered if parents tell you, you know, after he or she broke through this barrier with haircuts, did it help their sensory processing or their like emotional connection or things like some else other than, yeah, like throughout their life I, or their daily routine, their, their routine in general. I'm sure that you've probably heard that. 

Vernon: Yeah. No, I def, I definitely have, I have parents that communicated how you know, they will look in the mirror. They, they're just like, they, that they start using their short haircut to to almost soothe them as they, to see how it feels. Right. Yeah. Or, you know, or they, or I can see that, or, or they, they like, especially like my black kids, were not mm-hmm. They're like, you know, for us it's getting a shape up, you know, a hairline shape up, you know, uhhuh.

So I have a kid that's like, I had a kid that came in Zion. I've been [00:41:00] cutting Zion's hair. About two and a half years now. And he's cry. I mean, he is, he is nonverbal, so he just crying and snot nose. I'm always wiping his little boy's face off. You know, just, you're like, can I, I be wiping noses and everything. Crazy, man. Oh my gosh. . 

Deonna: You like, I get sick a lot, but it's fine. 

Vernon: Yo, yo. Like, I'd be like, man, I'd be like, all right bro. He says he Ah, right. Yeah. And you know, he and he just, he's always doing this yeah. By heart, on his head around doing, he's doing this. But last week he came, he got into the chair. He got into the chair and he started doing, started to trying to do little Ste wonder thing a little bit. Mm-hmm. At first started trying to do it. I gotcha. I gotcha. I cut this here and then for the first time, he let me shape him up. Oh. And I'm like, I got Peter away 

Rhandyl: two and a half years, but it happened. 

Deonna: You're like, don't say anything. Or he might like [00:42:00] notice, like, just be quiet. 

Vernon: He was, he was like, get it done like this. And I was like, that's awesome. 

Deonna: Like in the mirror filling himself. You're like, okay. 

Vernon: Walked out. He wants, not anymore. You know, he was doing this, you know, he could have turned his a little bit, there's moments like that, like where I die, it's. Have you seen the movie of Shark Tails? 

Deonna: Yes. Yeah. That it's been a while, 

Vernon: right? Right. Mm-hmm. You know, the, the shrimp scene in the restaurant and father's like, eat the shrimp. I don't wanna eat the shrimp. Dad and shrimp was like, take of my sister's kids. 

Deonna: That's funny. I've seen Yes. 

Vernon: Like come in, looks, kids faces story. Right. Okay. Yeah. That's how I feel. [00:43:00] 

Deonna: Oh, that's so cute. I sent that video to my mom the other day. I was like, I feel like this is like how I sound when I tell about our life. And people are like, oh my gosh. Like what? Because we have so many crazy things and, and yeah, I accidentally overshare sometimes, so No, that clip is so funny from Shark Hills.

Oh my God, it's so true. So. So what advice would you give parents who are really stressed about taking their kids into a barber? And it's just gonna be like a typical. Barber's situation? Like do they call ahead first? I mean like what advice do you have for them? 

Vernon: Say, I say call ahead. Say call ahead. Mm-hmm. And say, is anybody in there that's comfortable with doing a neurodivergent hair? Do Yeah. Hair cut and then block off time. And then, then, yeah. And then say, okay, cool. All right. Can we, if someone said they're cool with it, say, can we come in, can we meet you first? And can we see [00:44:00] how to vibe is and go from there? Or do you want this to show up the day to be figured out from there? You know what I'm saying?

Then I also say that if that person is, is, is blocking out mores time or whatnot mm-hmm. Take care of that person, you know, financially. Yeah. We don't tip a well, you know? Um, and that's true also, for real, like be like to understand like. My haircuts, my haircut specialty is valued to over a hundred dollars for the time slot. 

Oh. But I fundraise so that it doesn't fall upon any one person and allows everybody to be a part of it. Yeah. And so for the parents to be able to, like I said, listen, I'm a specialist at what I do. I didn't go to school for this. I didn't go to school for nothing. Yeah. I just pay attention. You figured it out. Mm-hmm. You know what I'm saying? I, I just this is how I am. Yeah. 

But I said, but I remind the parents is a reason why. Your, all your child's doctors are specialists. Everyone that they see are specialists. There's nothing general about your [00:45:00] child. Mm-hmm. So when you go into general, people have patience, have grace with them as they're trying to figure out, 'cause you had a head start with your child. Mm-hmm. You know what I'm saying? They don't know what to do and that's 'cause they work in this field doesn't mean that they are equipped for the work that you are trying to get them to do. 

Rhandyl: No, no, that's great advice. 

Vernon: Yeah. Just call ahead. So closing call ahead and then be willing to pay, you know what I'm saying? And, and if it's a 15 minute time site, it goes 20 to 25 minutes, double it and just, you know, and, and go from there. But definitely just do a, a a preemptive, type of thing and, and check out first. 

Deonna: Yeah. That's not a bad idea to go in first because there's times even my daughter who's cognitively the same as her peers, if we're going into a new place. I don't know if it's 'cause she's in a wheelchair and she's worried like, you know, it's not gonna be accessible or whatever. Mm-hmm. But there's times I have driven past places and or we've gone in places to show her [00:46:00] like, Hey, it's okay. It's gonna be fine to go into that place. It's not like gonna be bad or whatever. But, um, yeah, it's. I think it is good to go meet

like we're, me and Rhandyl have talked to the singing SLP. He is a speech path in Atlanta. Yeah. Yeah, right. Yeah. cool guy. But yeah, he's a cool guy. But I do remember him saying, you know, people kind of started to realize he could cut hair and he started cutting all these kids' hair that he did speech to, but. I think that works so well for him because they already know him. They come into that office all the time. Yeah. So it's like, and I mean, it is kind of scary for them sometimes when the clippers come out. But I mean that's why that situation works so well for him is because the kid is like, yeah, I've been in here. Yeah. 50 times. Like, I'm not afraid of him. So that's, yeah. I mean, I love that he spans into that cold 

Vernon: B No, I get, I get, I get cold meetups. First time. Yeah. They dunno who the hell I'm, they don't care who I'm, yeah. You know what I'm saying? [00:47:00] I, yeah. And they mostly white kids too. I used a big black guy with some clips anyway. Yeah. 

Deonna: Yeah. I love one of the videos where the kid kept telling you you were funny over and over and over. And then you were saying he was funny. It was like the only thing he was saying back and forth. That one was cute. 

Vernon: That's my guy. 

Deonna: Oh my gosh. 

Rhandyl: Like Deonna was saying, taking, Allie to places something that I do, 'cause my daughter is nonverbal. We, we don't have a lot of , answers for her cognitive disabilities, but she, understands like everything that we're telling her. Mm-hmm. Yeah. And so before we go do something new or when we're on the way, when we get there, whether we're in a waiting room or if we're doing something fun, you know, um, I try to. Prepare her, like tell her, you know, this is what we're doing. This is why we're doing it. This is where we're gonna go. This is, you know, just really, really like trying to prepare [00:48:00] her for the moment that's going to happen. , And so that's, my advice also to caregivers that may be nervous about. Anything but haircuts. That's the subject we're on today. Um, yeah. Is just to, to mentally prepare them a little bit. Whether that's gonna make a difference or not. At least they are. Aware of where they're going and what's happening. 

Deonna: That, yeah. What you said is funny because I have had to prepare Allie for fun things like you think. Yeah. You know, you don't think you would ever have to prepare a kid for the unknown of something fun, but we've had to, we took her to Blueys house in Houston. Mm-hmm. I had to pull up on YouTube. Full detailed tour. I mean, we basically ruined all the surprises because she was so anxious about going to this fun thing. So, I mean, when you're going to do something that's not fun, that is like a whole nother level. So yeah, you have to be prepared. [00:49:00] Yeah. 

Okay. So, for people that are listening, how can they support you being able to do these haircuts? Because you said it is like a donation type thing, so how can people do that? Give us all the info they need. 

Vernon: All right. So, um, financially the easiest way a lot of times. Mm-hmm. You know what I'm saying? People that want to just be a part of what's going on. Yeah. It's always that. You can go to the, get thegiftedevent.com. And there's two options there. They wanna make a, a minimum donation. They don't care about getting getting my tax id. The, the claim, my taxes, they go the pay they go fund me or the PayPal, or if they want to get the, uh, my tax ID for my, the, my non profit. Mm-hmm. They can go to there's a, uh, the, uh, link beneath it that goes to a clover link. And at the end, in, in the receipt, it'll have. Oh, okay. Okay.

Also if they're on my social media, if they're on my Instagram [00:50:00] at the the best, the number one mm-hmm. The word period. So the best one word, period spelled out. And or any of my TikTok. My TikTok is the gifted event official. And also the same thing for my YouTube channel. There's a link tree in my bio that they can click on. Okay. And go do it that way. Now, that's for financials. If it's about toys or whatnot. I do have a lot, there's like a different kind of toy or, or a different kind of fidget that people want to potentially send. Mm-hmm. Um, or what toys that may be down I may need more of. Mm-hmm. They show me a DM or inbox like toy clippers.

Toy clipper sets are major. That help out a lot. You know, I give, I give those out all the time to kids that, you know, like, Hey here, they have a hard time. I don't play this for a little bit. Yeah. It helps out tremendously. Mm-hmm. Um. And then, yeah. So that's probably about it. Nice. It should be email, it should be a inbox or email at vernonJackson@giftedalliance.org. That's a lot. But in closing, [00:51:00] any link in my bio or at the end of the day, go to thegiftedevent.com. Mm-hmm. And everything is there. 

Deonna: Thank you. Yeah, , it's such a good cause and I hope that this type of thing starts to pop up in a lot of different places because, you know, it's such a need, but, it's been so fun talking to you today and learning all about. What you're doing and how it started. And I mean it's always fun to hear the backstory on somebody you've seen online. 'cause we've all seen you online. I told my husband this morning, I was talking to you and he's like, oh my gosh, yes, I know him. And I was like, yeah, I think everybody does at this point. But yeah, even my son had seen you and so yeah, everybody's seen you.

But um, yeah, we're just thankful you took some time to talk to us today. 

Rhandyl: Yes. And I just. I just wanna thank you as a, a caregiver for the awareness that you're bringing to this community. It's something special and you're definitely making a change in so many people's lives, so we really [00:52:00] appreciate what you're doing.

Vernon: I received that. I'm, I'm glad I get to be a part of the team. Yeah, for sure. For I get inbox of people like, yeah, like I'm in the, I'm in the field, been doing it for 15 years, 10 years. I'm like, dang, that's what's up. I feel bad. More famous than you. This is crazy. 

Deonna: That's hilarious. I love it. 

Vernon: You know, like, I'm like, my Thank you for you're doing.

Deonna: Yeah. Yeah. That's good to know. There are lots of people out doing it. It's like I'm starting to realize that after talking to you and um, Singing SLP mm-hmm. It is like it's happening, but it's just, yeah. I hope more cosmetology and barbers get. Less intimidated and just try it and see what happens. And I think they'd be pleasantly surprised at the relationships and connections they make through it.

**Disclaimer

Before we go, I wanna remind our listeners that this podcast is for the purpose of education and entertainment only, and is not a replacement for seeing a doctor. We suggest you seek out the help of a trained professional for help with your child's specific situation.