Early on a Saturday morning the doors opened at Nappy Roots Hair Salon & Barbershop - an Own Your Vote hub on the north side of Milwaukee. On Saturday mornings throughout the month you’ll find volunteers getting ready to canvass in their neighborhood.
Kim and Anthony opened Nappy Roots together in November, 2004 and have become a popular place in their community. Nappy Roots was first opened with one stylist and quickly expanded to include more barbers, stylists, massage therapists and nail technicians who kept customers walking in the door.
The shop’s motto greets you right when you walk in the door – “Don’t forget your roots” – but they’re not just talking about hair. The doors of Nappy Roots are open to hundreds of customers each week, and every day they’re part of conversations about what’s happening in their community. These conversations are where their organizing begins.
“We wanted to open our business up to the community and let people visit. We proudly support the president.”
Frida, a Neighborhood Team Leader, first spoke to Anthony and Kim about opening their doors for volunteers. Since then, it has become a great place to kick-off Saturday morning canvasses and enjoy conversation with nearby neighbors. Now, as an Own Your Vote hub, those conversations are opportunities to help educate others about the voting laws in Wisconsin and to talk about what President Obama has accomplished.
“I supported him in 2008, and am glad I have the opportunity again by opening my doors.”
Join our network of Own Your Vote hubs today by signing up to volunteer to make sure you #OwnYourVote in 2012.
This week we’re launching Wisconsin’s African Americans for Obama program to talk about the President’s accomplishments and about how we’re organizing to own our vote in 2012.