City of Gainesville to partner with barbershops on ‘Fresh Fades & Healthy Hearts’
Press release from the City of Gainesville
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Gainesville Fire Rescue (GFR) is proud to announce the launch of Fresh Fades & Healthy Hearts, a new outreach initiative funded by a $27,050 grant from the Coverys Community Healthcare Foundation. Designed to promote cardiovascular wellness, the innovative program will be led by GFR’s Director of Community Health Initiatives, Brandy Stone.
Director Stone has long envisioned a program that brings preventive screenings, along with connections to healthcare options, directly into familiar places where people feel comfortable and safe. The inventive approach of Fresh Fades & Healthy Hearts pulls barbers into the mix, leaning on their role as trusted friend and advisor. The program will introduce cardiovascular screenings to shops where customers already visit regularly and are accustomed to talking, listening, and exchanging information.
The initiative is rooted in national and local data that shows 55% of Black adults in the United States have high blood pressure. In Alachua County, the 2024 Community Health Assessment revealed that Black residents are more likely than other racial groups to have hypertension. Nearly twice as many respondents reported having high blood pressure than having diabetes. With this, Fresh Fades & Healthy Hearts can fill an important gap—providing blood pressure checks for those most at-risk for heart-related illnesses.
“Barbershops are more than just places to get a haircut — they’re cornerstones of community connection,” said Director Stone. “By meeting people where they are and equipping barbers to use blood pressure cuffs and refer clients to health resources, we’re removing barriers and building trust. The ultimate goal is to provide education and raise awareness that lets people take control of their own heart health.”
Barbers who participate in the program will receive training from GFR emergency medical services staff to learn how to take accurate blood pressure readings, offer health education, and guide clients to follow-up care. They also will receive user-friendly equipment, including blood pressure monitors and iPads for easy data collection, as well as compensation for their time in training.
“Fresh Fades & Healthy Hearts is another example of our commitment to community-driven solutions,” said Gainesville City Manager Cynthia W. Curry. “We’re thankful to the Coverys Foundation for investing in this bold idea and to our barbers for stepping into a new role as health ambassadors.”
In its first phase, Fresh Fades & Healthy Hearts will focus on recruiting five to 10 neighborhood barbershops located in zip codes with the city’s highest volume of 911 calls for cardiac-related emergencies. The program also will include incentives such as $5 discounts on haircuts for first-time participants and community launch events to generate awareness and excitement.
The program is expected to begin implementation in early fall. Neighbors interested in learning more are encouraged to contact Brandy Stone at stonebl@gainesvillefl.gov or 352-393-8566.
How much is this costing city taxpayers? High blood pressure is a concern for any person in matter what color. They have been singling out the black community for years about poor diet and high cholesterol, and heart issues. Once again the Dems are singling out the black community and telling them they are a health burden to the city of Gainesville. Way to go Curry.
“…funded by a $27,050 grant from the Coverys Community Healthcare Foundation…”.
March of Dimes page describing another partnership with the non-profit.
https://www.marchofdimes.org/get-involved/partner/corporate/coverys
I looked at the website before i posted. All they talk about is Mothers and babies.
-Together, March of Dimes and Coverys Community Healthcare Foundation, Inc., are elevating the benefits of taking low dose aspirin as a scalable, evidence-based strategy to reduce rates of preeclampsia and preterm birth in the US.
No where i saw communities with high blood pressure. There was however a picture of a female wearing a blood pressure cuff. No where does it talked about compensating businesses. Just pilot programs about mothers and babies to to take aspirin.
It’s a different Corvery project. They don’t just do the barbershop or pregnancy ones, but you asked who was paying and they are and the MOD’s site verifies their legitimacy.
Plus the conditions they are talking about is from being pregnant. Barber shops are usually male oriented so I’m trying to connect the dots. Males can’t get pregnant the last time I checked. Males can only make a female pregnant and they can’t get pregnancy induced health problems.
Coverys is a medical insurance company that represents medical professionals, not medical patients. They are simply collecting data. Give them your data and they’ll give you five dollars off your first haircut🤡
Maybe the next new program will be Dental procedures performed by Barbers. Call it a Doc Holiday Program to create Excitement for the program.
“They also will receive user-friendly equipment, including blood pressure monitors and iPads for easy data collection, as well as compensation for their time in training.”
Are they trying to educate black citizens about the dangers of high blood pressure or are they trying to collect personal health data? I think the answer is obvious…
Yeah Slice, no doubt they’ll be implanting bugs in their hair and Bill Gates must be behind it.
Stop with the straw man. Washed up Bill Gates isn’t behind it. Coverys is a medical insurance company. They are behind it.
And if some idiot wants to receive a $5 discount in exchange for their participation then go for it. I still remember people injecting covid shots in exchange for a free donut or burger.
Yeah, poor Bill Gates: “According to Forbes, as of May 2025, his net worth stood at US$115.1 billion, making him the thirteenth-richest individual in the world.”
Isn’t he the guy who uses much of his fortune to try to help poor people, not kill them like Trump and Musk?
Why do you insist on inserting Bill Gates – and now Trump and Elon – into this conversation?
I’m simply stating that a large insurance company that only represents hospitals and docs is offering five dollars in exchange for black men’s personal data. Any living person can hit up YouTube if they are unsure of how to check their BP.
Slice, it’s because I am mocking your paranoia which many – maybe not you – projected to a Bill Gates plot to embed chips in people during Covid – As if Bill Gates or Covery cares what we are doing.
“Bill Gates ‘microchip’ conspiracy theory and other vaccine claims fact-checked”
https://www.bbc.com/news/52847648
PS Covery has a charitable foundation which is what awarded this grant, as well as the one Bear found on the MOD website for pregnant women.
But you are the one posted the link. When you click on it all it talks about is pregnant women.
Bear, read my lips – I posted it to confirm that the organization has a track record of funding health care initiatives of benefit to citizens. The fact that the MODs recognizes and works with it adds to it’s legitimacy.