Anton McLean

“All of my family members growing up were barbers, cosmetologists, jobs like like that. I learned to love being around people since they were always coming through my house to get a cut.

“I love to cut hair, I love being around people. And enrolling in barber school was one of the first positive things I did in my life after I got out of prison …

“Knowing that I could get my license denied because of mistakes I made in the past, it’s frightening. I have two kids to feed. And denying people the ability to have a job just keeps a mentality of dependency going. Especially for jobs like these. In a lot of places in Chicago, being a barber is one of the few ways people know how to be an entrepreneur legally.”

Anton McLean
Chicago, Illinois