Waverly Willis

Waverly Willis has a naturally genuine heart to be a resource to those in his community. Born and raised in Cleveland, Waverly witnessed countless issues and ailments that plagued our communities, and that ignited his passion to establish The Urban Barber Association, a resource available to assist families build a quality of life for their families and communities. A professional barber, Waverly directly encountered families crippled by preventable issues. In 2011, The Urban Barber Association (T.U.B.A) collaborated with Cleveland Clinic and The American Heart Association for SWAG, Saving Women and Gents health fair. SWAG brings physicians to the people to address silent killers, including hypertension and diabetes, and provide resources to those who avoided routine physicals due to lack of health coverage or who could not miss time from work. The annual health fair rapidly grew addressing additional issues like re-entry programs, employment services, and educational and literacy programs. Because of its success, SWAG established a year-round blood pressure program. Healthcare professionals visit collaborating barber and beauty salons providing blood pressure checks and educating patrons on the importance of regular check-ups. T.U.B.A is using the barbershop to build a healthy community of families one cut at a time.