Meet the St. Pete man who gives out free haircuts to kids who read to him

Local businessman Antonio Brown has given out over 1,500 books to area youth as part of the Barbershop Book Club.

Brown, owner of Central Station Barbershop & Grooming in St. Petersburg, teaches kids how to read as they get their hair cut. If they read the book out loud to him, the haircut is free and they get to keep the book.

Brown believes reading can help kids deal with problems they may be facing at home or in school.

“What we are doing here with the Barbershop Book Club is preparing kids for life,” Brown said.

His program has expanded to 10 different barber shops and Brown hopes it will grow to be statewide.

Read more about Brown here.

One Small Act: A new video series from the Tampa Bay Times

Big changes are hard to make. One way is to start small.

To celebrate members of our community who make Tampa Bay a better place, the Times has created a video series entitled One Small Act.

We’ll highlight local people who are doing something positive for themselves, their loved ones or their community by making one small change in their lives.

We hope to inspire you with stories about how our friends and neighbors are making this world a better place. One small act at a time.

Do you know an interesting person who has done something uplifting for themselves or others in the community? Email jborchuck@tampabay.com with your idea and contact information.