Baltimore Social Innovation Journal, Fall 2016 Fall 2016 | Page 7

NA ME: Robert Cradle
INNOVATI ON : Setting up barbershops/salons

in homeless shelters, schools; rendering and teaching
grooming services

A G E: 49
HO ME: Odenton
O CCUPATI ON : Master Barber, CEO of Rob’s

Barbershop Community Foundation

HO BBI ES: Reading, listening to podcasts on
African-American history & culture, hip-hop, boxing
FU N FACT: Prides himself on bookkeeping.
T W ITTER HANDLE: @RobsFoundation

Getting in that space can also mean
comforting people who’ve suffered trauma
and abuse. The act of touching someone
– of safe human touch – can be profoundly
therapeutic. The shops Cradle sets up, not
only in homeless