About DreamCutz

Young men currently serving long-term sentences in the Massachusetts juvenile justice system have experienced depression and incidents of violence 45 percent more often than those serving determinate sentences. Because the vast majority of America's prison population is men of color, in Boston, this issue disproportionately affects Black and Hispanic men. Facing almost an entire lifetime ahead of them in prison, these men often experience feelings of hopelessness and resignation, leading to seriously debilitating mental health issues that can manifest themselves in violence.

Recognizing this and fervently believing that everyone deserves to have hope and purpose in their lives, the Dreamcatcher Initiative (DCI) launched the DreamCutz program to give these men practical professional and social skills to restore these feelings. We assist them in becoming essential contributors and leaders within the incarcerated community.

DCI collaborated with Shannon Lesley, a licensed and certified instructor, to develop DreamCutz into a hands-on vocational introduction to barbering. DCI also recruited professional facilitators from the community who have worked with proven-risk youth for several years, and who give their time to lead the "Men's Group." The Men's Group is DreamCutz' social component that helps men build verbal and interpersonal skills to resolve conflict and reduce the use of violence as a means of engagement.

In 2023, DCI opened their first physical barbershop to run the DreamCutz program. Made possible by a DYS Single Service Provider Contract, the program offers opportunities for youth in The Metro Connelly Residential facility to access vocational barber training on-site. In addition, DCI will offer the youth various career-readiness sessions and 1-on-1 mentorship to equip them with the tools needed to achieve economic stability, which will reduce community violence and the likelihood of recidivism.