There is little else in the world that feels better than stepping out of the barbershop with a fresh haircut. What seems like a simple and routine act of self-grooming can completely change someone’s outlook, uplifting their confidence, putting a little extra pep in their step, and giving them the courage to face an overwhelming day.
Cut My City, a local nonprofit organization, takes this concept to a whole new level. With a mobile barbershop bus, years of experience cutting hair, and an unwavering commitment to serve the community, the organization offers free haircuts to residents of Fayetteville—and beyond—who might need a helping hand.
Built on example
Cut My City, which first received its 501(c)(3) designation in March 2023, was born out of a years-long friendship. Dr. Lumumba Quow and Dr. Sundiata Morris—who both hold Doctorates in Barbery from the National Beauty Culturists’ League’s Institute of Cosmetology—first met in Virginia and they quickly connected about family, artistry, and community.
Quow grew up in Trinidad and Tobago, a dual-island nation and the southernmost islands in the Caribbean. He told CityView that his mother was the inspiration behind his passion for community service. He watched his mom—a single parent—serve her community through cooking food and selling it at a much lower cost than others in the area to ensure her community got what it needed.
“She created events, community events, for people to have a good day,” Quow said. “I always wanted to mimic that as a kid.”
Morris, a licensed barber of 26 years and a Norfolk, Virginia, native, said he was born an artist. He fell in love with the craft after an ill-fated, self-induced haircut at age 10, which was inspired by seeing an older teenage neighbor cutting hair.
“I went home and butchered myself to death,” Morris said with a laugh. Morris recalls his mother—who he said couldn’t necessarily afford regular haircuts back then—boosting his confidence about his home haircut.
“If it was something that I liked,” Morris recalls his mom saying, “Then it would be okay, no matter what nobody else said about the haircut.” He fell in love with the craft and kept honing his skills.
When the two friends both independently relocated to the Fayetteville area—armed with a passion for community service—they saw an opportunity to create positive change for their new community. In 2007, the pair opened Barber Kings, a popular barbershop located on Hope Mills Road.
New opportunity
At their shop, Quow and Morris quickly made a major impact on the community around them.
Sophia Ford, a Fayetteville native, recalls Quow and Morris’s compassion and patience with her two eldest children, after having some less-than-amazing experiences at other barbershops.
“My children, they’re boys,” Ford chuckled. “They’re not bad boys, they’re very respectful, but they’re little boys. At one barbershop, there is no denying that the little kids were still expected to be quiet the whole time, and just sit and be still. We’re talking about 5- and 6-year-olds.”
Ford said that when she found Barber Kings, she still felt some lingering nerves, encouraging her kids to sit still and quiet for their haircut. Quow had other ideas.
“He stopped me,” Ford laughed as she explained how Quow jokingly scolded her and reminded her that children are not—by nature—still and quiet. “It felt like relief. It felt like someone who really understood.”
Quow and Morris continued to build their shop, serving the community with that same compassion and understanding. With their drive to help people—and with cordless clippers in hand—the pair took their skills and mission across the world beginning in the late 2000s. They visited places like Trinidad and Tobago, Saint Thomas, Saint Lucia, and England.
Morris described visiting orphanages where, even in the midst of tragic situations, they were able to give children free haircuts.
“The haircut, it changed everything,” Morris said, hoping that the children felt even a small portion of their prayers were answered.
On a trip to Ghana, Quow said they felt “a divine spiritual calling,” putting them in a position to concentrate on their purpose. On the trip, they felt that they were able to spread their message, providing supplies and opportunities for these outlook-changing free haircuts to spread. They brought clippers and inspiration to the people, empowering them to continue serving others.
Back home
After their purpose-driven trip to Africa, Quow and Morris started driving down a new avenue on their journey. They created a mobile barbershop—a rebuilt school bus they call “The Ark”—completing the initially self-funded two-year project with the help of local sponsors, and through grant opportunities from Cumberland County and Cape Fear Valley Health. When “The Ark” was complete, Quow and Morris quickly began visiting local communities and parking at community resource events to provide free haircuts to those in need.
With clippers buzzing, Cut My City visits as many community events as they can manage. Recently, the organization attended the 33rd annual Umoja Festival—which was held at Seabrook Park in late August. Morris and Quow also visit the Fayetteville Cares Day Resource Center once a month, usually during the last week of the month, to cut people’s hair for free, Morris said. Quow said they participate in an event for homeless people every month, on top of their yearly events, to ensure that people can get the services they need.
On top of providing free haircuts and supporting local community resource events, Cut My City plans to expand the scope of the organization’s mission. Beyond just giving free haircuts to people in need, they hope to begin mentoring Fayetteville youth.
“One of the things we want to provide at Cut My City is not just to bring on people who are already professional,” Morris told CityView. “We want to train people.”
In North Carolina, there is no minimum age requirement to enroll in barber school or get licensed as a barber—barring any labor laws that might interfere with a young person working— according to the N.C. Board of Barber and Electrolysis Examiners.
Morris explained that Cut My City aims to provide young people with the training they need to become professionals. Morris sees this training program as a way to keep teenagers busy and teach them the importance of serving those around them.
Ford told CityView that her eldest boys—twins, now age 11—will be volunteering with Cut My City during some upcoming opportunities. She said that the twins are very interested in community service, constantly trying to help others.
“To give children an opportunity like that,” Ford said. “I think that’s absolutely great.”
Between Quow, Morris, and Ford, a common thread binds together the importance of community service: unity. Quow and Morris opened Barber Kings—and later, Cut My City—with the intention of creating a space where everyone feels welcome and appreciated, regardless of any differences. They focus on helping each other, serving others, and creating as much equity and understanding in the community as they can.
So, what changes in a person when they step out of the chair with a clean haircut?
“I think it becomes very uplifting,” Morris said, describing how a haircut can be a spiritual experience. “It just seems to change the energy in the person.” He explained that what could be the worst day for someone seems to turn around when they look in the mirror after their haircut.
“The joy that I get when I’m on that bus, to see those kids are so happy,” Quow said through teary eyes. “They recognize the bus, and they can feel comfortable and not feel afraid.”
He recalled watching his family struggle when he was a child, leading him to look for solutions to the pain he saw.
“When I’m able to help somebody, I feel like it’s the best joy in the world.”
To learn more about Cut My City, visit the nonprofit’s website: cutmycity.org.
Read CityView Magazine’s “The Giving Issue” November 2025 e-edition here.