Aaron Perry, the founder of Rebalanced-Life Wellness Association, will embark on a two-year book tour across the nation’s Stroke and Diabetes Belts to meet with Black men and boys and address health disparities in their communities.
The tour coincides with the release of Perry’s book series, The Doctor Says I Have… Now, What?, which aims to encourage men to have conversations about their health. Perry has long advocated for addressing health disparities among men, particularly Black men, by increasing access to health services and education, raising awareness, encouraging conversations within the community and fostering support.
“I was diagnosed with diabetes. I’ve lived with it now for over 33 years, which is half my life, and I have mentored over, I would estimate to be, about 9,000 diabetics worldwide that have reached out and asked for advice,” Perry said. “With ‘Trim the Risk,’ because we run a free clinic, and we’re still seeing on a daily basis a lot of challenges Black men face.”
The tour is named “Trim the Risk: A Barbershop Health Literacy.” Perry will travel to 17 states: Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Mississippi, Arkansas, Alabama, Georgia, Michigan, Maryland, Texas, Florida and Pennsylvania.
Those 17 states are part of the Stroke Belt and Diabetes Belt. The two areas have been classified by public health agencies as regions with the highest rates of strokes and diabetes in the nation.
While it is technically a book tour, Perry stresses that it isn’t about selling books. The tour is about reaching Black men about their health using the barbershop health model he launched back in 2016.
Perry launched a health clinic inside JP Hair Design, 584 Grand Canyon Drive, a decade ago with the goal of changing how men are reached with health services. The model has reached more than 8,200 Black men in Dane County through preventive screenings for blood pressure and diabetes, as well as flu shots and other vaccinations.
The seven-book series addresses diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, sleep apnea and heart disease. Each book follows a fictional character named Kenneth after he is diagnosed with one of the conditions.
Kennenth embarks on a journey to learn more about his condition in the book, using support networks and how to prioritize his health. Each ends with reflection questions to aid in conversations.
“The book series is literally based on the voices of men that I have worked with ever since we opened the nation’s first health clinic in a barbershop in 2016,” Perry said.
The tour is partnered with around 200 barbershops and over 50,000 men. The total number of barbershops partnered with has continuously increased — up from 150 only a few months ago — to the point that Perry has been requested by additional barbershops to join in.
Perry hopes to foster a wave of similar health models as the one in Madison. He believes that how health has been approached by medical professionals has not been effective enough to adequately combat disparities.
“We didn’t listen to the medical community that said the barbershop model will not work. It has worked very well for us,” Perry said. “Right now we’re at a crossroads. There is absolutely a crisis because clinical trials and a lot of the preventative health measures that the medical community has taken, they have simply not worked.”
The barbershop is where men go, Perry said. It’s a place where they feel comfortable, trust, respect, feel a sense of community and can relax.
“When they go to a typical medical screening, when they go in, even with the nurse taking their blood pressure, their blood pressure is so elevated,” Perry said. “It’s elevated because of the nervousness that men have with going to the hospital or clinic.”
The tour is planned for two years, but Perry is willing to keep it going for as long as needed as more interest is expressed. For now, the backing of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the largest philanthropic organization in the United States focused on public health and health equity, will help kick off the tour.
“I believe that we have the potential to reach 100,000 [men]. I really believe that,” Perry said. “We won’t stop if the number keeps growing. We’ll keep the tour going.”
Perry is planning to start the tour in mid-October with either Gary, Indiana; Memphis Tennessee; or Atlanta, Georgia. More information about the tour and dates can be found on Rebalanced-Life Wellness’ website.
