About Milan Dennie
Like many young black men around him in Gary, Ind., Milan Dennie didn’t grow up with much. It was mostly just his siblings and his mom, who struggled to make ends meet. He remembers the pressure to have new shoes, clothes, and a fresh haircut heading back to school, and wished there was a way to help his family afford those things. It’s because of those difficult times that he is committed to helping people today, giving away haircuts and school supplies through It’s Our Neighborhood. Now, children in the neighborhood can go to school with pride and self-esteem, knowing their parents didn’t have to shell out yet another big expense.
By doing what he does, Milan and his crew also present the children with role models of hope and triumph, success and leadership. He exemplifies entrepreneurship. What’s more, he proactively mentors the children, listens to them, talks with them, asks them how they and their families are doing and what they want to become in life, and he offers inspirational advice based on his own life experience.
Let’s not forget to mention that Milan is an accomplished professional barber. He does hairstyles of different entertainers, sports figures and celebrities, but the most popular these days are mohawks with graphic designs
“Owner Milan Dennie says it’s his way of helping out his neighborhood. He says he grew up with a single mother and knows how hard it can be for families to afford all the expenses that come with a new school year.”
-Inside Edition
“It’s actually something I went through growing up,” Dennie said. “My mom was sick so she really couldn’t work. Other kids, they had really nice stuff and you have to go to school with those kids, and they’ve got on brand new Jordan’s (sneakers), and you’ve got on your brother’s hand-me-downs. You are going to get bullied and chastised. Parents do their best, but stuff is expensive.”
-Twin Cities Pioneer Press
“So many kids out here ask me, ‘Man, you’ve got a job for me?’ And I feel bad,” Dennie said. “I went on to college. I have a few credentials.”
-Twin Cities Pioneer Press