MANSFIELD — Damien Beauford was teaching fatherhood classes at a prison three years ago when he realized a change was needed.
“It was great, but it was a lot of time away from my family that I really didn’t want in my life. I had to do something different,” said the 32-year-old Mansfield man and father of five.
Looking for ideas, Beauford took the advice of his barber — and became a barber 16 months ago.
Joined by family, friends, supporters and elected officials during an official ribbon cutting on Tuesday afternoon, Beauford is now the owner of 419 Barbershop, 1367 Park Ave. West.
It’s a full-service barbershop, offering haircuts, beard trims, facials, shampoos, and straight-razor shaves, among other offerings.
“(Becoming a barber) was a change and a sacrifice,” Beauford said. “I needed it for me and my family and for me to be able to do more in the community.
“That was the biggest thing … for me to be able to do more in the community and the church,” he said.
Beauford began studies at the Ohio State College of Barber Styling in Columbus, a program that requires 1,800 hours of training to obtain a license.
“It was probably the roughest nine months of my life,” Beauford said. “It typically takes 12 to 14 months, but I was there six days a week. Some days I didn’t know if I was going to get home … sleeping (along) the highway some days. I really took a hit financially, but it has paid off.”
Beauford was among 15 local residents who attended the South by Southwest Conference in Austin, Texas, in 2017, an effort aimed at downtown revitalization that has generated the Mansfield Rising idea.
Beauford said that trip has been key to his efforts.
“South by Southwest was cool. It was like seeing a whole other world. That group that went has some very intelligent people and they have been very encouraging in daily conversations I have had with them,” Beauford said. “They helped me to see anything is possible, just in their support and learning from them how the business world works and how to navigate it. It gave me some hope, gave me some light, made me want to do something more for this city.
“I want to create something better for the people of this city. You don’t have to go out of town for a haircut. We had a guy here earlier today saying he used to go to Cleveland because he didn’t know where to go (for a haircut). I don’t want that. I want people to be planted here in Mansfield, Ohio.”
Jodie Perry, president/CEO of the Richland Area Chamber of Commerce, also went to SXSW in 2017. She was there to help cut the ribbon on Tuesday.
“It’s been really fun watching him chasing his dream to be a small business owner,” Perry said. “I know he has poured his heart and soul into his project.”
Beauford also introduced his team — Sarah Leonhart, who convinced him to become a barber, along with Aaron Fairbanks and Khyyam Crawford.
In addition to his barber work and starting a new business, Beauford has been busy preparing to reprise his role as Charles Follis in “The Black Cyclone,” staging April 12 & 13 at Mansfield Senior High School.
“It’s hard for me to say ‘no’ to good things. When there are things I really support and believe in and stand behind, I am going to be there as much as I can.
“‘The Black Cyclone’ is one if those things. It’s local history. I love football. (Playwright) Jim Stoner is a great friend of mine. I am going to help him make this (play) a success.”
