Looking forward to seeeing you at “April on the Ave“.
Grassroots “A Day Off” Event
Grassroots hosted it’s second “A Day Off ” Event. This event focused on giving people with a life-threatening or chronic illness, “A Day Off” from managing self-care. Each guest received a complimentary haircut/style or scalp massage with essential oils, hand massage and a make-up application. Many local small businesses, clients of Grassroots and staff generously made donations to help fund the event and to help with purchasing items to fill the gift bags that were given to each participant. First English Lutheran Church provided beautiful hand-made prayer shawls for everyone. The Grassroots Compassion team donated their time and services at the event. There were many smiles, laughter and new friendships that were fostered that day. Here are some pictures that were taken of some of the beautiful woman we had the opportunity to meet that day:
Unbinding My Heart…..Unbinding My Business
Unbinding My Heart…..Unbinding My Business
I have been asked by a few people for the backdrop of the story for the event “A Day Off” being held at Grassroots a salon. This has become a difficult task as I was pondering what I think people would want to hear me say. Yes, I could say your typical business stuff that it helps build a stronger, healthier community or that clients like heart-felt stories and it could bring in new clientele. But this event has grown from somewhere much deeper than that. I remember in Beauty School learning business etiquette and the golden rule, “Never discuss politics or religion.” I had to make the chose. Is it okay for me to unbind my heart now? Is it acceptable to faith share?
My journey truly starts around 6 years ago. It was at the time of my life after having children, being in situations where you meeting new parents and where the one rising question that was always asked, “What do you do for a living?” I always felt myself hesitant to say, “I am a hairdresser”. There suddenly became this desire to seek my “call” in life, my purpose. It also became a task to get to the bottom of my fears of death, dying, and self forgiveness. I felt if I could conquer these fears, I would be gifted the ultimate prize of some life altering experience, to help build this amazing legacy. Anyone who know me once I get an idea in my head there is no stopping.
I stumbled upon a 3 year class for “Spiritual Awakening for Global Transformation”. With a title like that I was sure to gain all of the answers. After 3 years I came to the conclusion, I love who I am, I love being a hairdresser and most of all I love God and he loves me.
Starting to live my life from a place of inner-knowing I could see Grassroots a salon take on a new form. The independent hair artist who work there all come from different religious backgrounds: Catholic, Lutheran, non-denominational, Buddist and I think even a sprinkle of Hindu in there. We still find it within our hearts to find a common ground and to work on a level for the goodness of all. We are ONE! There was a realization that the stylist chair was now a sacred throne, a place where clients shined, a free-will offering of sharing of ideas, thoughts, special events in ones lives, joys, concerns and sadness. It was an area of confidentiality and place to unleash, unbind. I can see all of us reaching deeper levels of conversation that what would have not been originally accepted in a business environment. It is a gift to have the license “To Touch”. I believe in this profession working on so many different people, you start to build and gain an inner intuition of others energies and almost a 6th sense of the person you are working on. So together we embarked on donating our hair services for local organizations such as Harbor House, Salvation Army and various fundraising events throughout our community. All of these still remained in our comfort levels.
Later on in my journey things started to hit closer to home. One of my clients, who had recently retired, decided it would be fun to work at Grassroots as a part-time receptionist. Shortly after, she was diagnosed with cancer. As she began to loose hair, I had offered to cut her hair at her daughter’s house. Both of her daughter’s lived only a block away from my house in the neighborhood that we had recently moved to. I remember being scared, wondering if I would have the strength to go through with it. Unlike our other events this one seemed to be a little out of my comfort zone. Would I end up crying? Falling apart? How would it make her feel if I did? Once she sat on the kitchen chair, the salon chair, the magical throne, it felt like home to me. Once I began doing the craft of hairdressing, the gift given to me, we began to unbind. We laughed, cried and shared stories. Just as if a typical day at the salon. I felt honored to be a part of her journey. During our time together I began to get to know her daughter’s very well. I found out later their were also members of my congregation, imagine that. Little did I know that they were my angels in disguise. The day their mother passed away was the same day my mom was given her official diagnosis and treatment plan for her pancreatic cancer. Who would have thought that right after loosing their mother they would find the strength to guide me on the journey with mine.
Fifteen months later, I find myself in a similar situation. Another kitchen haircut. This time it is on a back patio, the weather is hot and the sun is shining bright. Sitting in the chair is the person I love so dearly, the one who will leave us in the next few weeks to come, my MOM! It will be her final haircut. I remember giving her the scalp massage prior to her haircut. I remember feeling her, I mean really feeling her.. Her sense of all of her being. Her energy, strength, the beauty of this great wonderful women before me. I took it all in, her smell, the sound of her voice, the sound of her laughter. Once I began cutting the magic started. We had wonderful conversations, ones that no longer had to be from a daughter who was losing her mom, women to women. Fond memories, stories. Her sitting in that chair, me doing what I love, granted me the strength and comfort to ask her the question I have been longing to ask her, “Mom there is a huge part of me that feels like I am already losing you.” Her statement, “I know I feel it to. I know that you guys are sad to see me go, but I know in my heart you will be okay. I am so very proud of all of my girls and I love you dearly. I have a hard time describing what I feel in words for you to fully understand. It is like human nature, some godly force takes over you and you are ready. I am sorry, but I am excited to go!.” She also found strength that day and comfort in that last haircut. She even put a little makeup on, changed her shirt and sat in the sun surrounded by all of her family members who later joined us that day. We captured that day by taking pictures of all of us kissing her goodbye.
There has been so many gifts given to me while on the journey with my mom and her cancer. So many signs of her faith. Constant reminders of even though you may be going through a lot, where it is easy to focus on yourself, someone else is going through even more. Always remember to put others in your thoughts and/or prayers. While your a still living, live to the fullest. Her purchase of a new scooter during her cancer, learning to ride, the wind blowing through her short hair was a true testament of that. When it was her time to go, there was no mention of what a great insurance agent she was, her financial status, the materialistic things she had collected along the way. None of that. Instead there were stories of the times she unbind, opened her heart to others. Her loving kindness. Her faith. Her inner-knowing. That is her legacy.
So what is “The Day Off” Events backstory? It is a representation of all the gifts I have been given. The support given to me from my church family, Grassroots Family (including fellow stylists and clients of the salon), the community, and from all of YOU.
This event was created by a spur of the moment idea. One day over coffee and scones, the two daughter’s mentioned earlier, helped me gather my ideas, brainstorm and get them down on paper. Without any commitment to see if I would have any help from other stylist, I started this event blindly. Kind of how your faith is, inner knowing, higher power is lead, Blindly. You just feel it, trust in it, go with it. It didn’t take long for the other independent stylist of Grassroots and a stylist, Ashley from Agea Spa, to donate their time and service and to completely fill my chairs. It has continually to grow organically as more business and personal donations have been given. I wonder as our economy continually is changing, maybe this is the time for people to unbind their hearts and unbind their business by putting their hearts back into it. Nothing can come bad out of something, when things are lead from the heart, with love. This is the Grassroots way of paying it forward.
Through emails and phone calls we have began to feel personally connected to all of the beautiful people who are participants in the “The Day Off Event” and are looking forward to meeting you. It is never to late or to soon to let someone you care about know that you are thinking of them:
Be Bold.
Be Free.
Be Beautiful.
Believe.
Be Love.
Be True to YOU.
As far and wide…
Remember there is someone who is thinking of YOU…
We are all thinking of YOU…
-David Newman
Love, Grassroots a salon
To support, follow, or join our “A Day Off” Event being held at Grassroots a salon, check out our event page “A Day Off” on Facebook.
“A Day Off” Event
SPRING FLING Shopping Event
Grassroots a Salon is selling tickets for Sandra Began’s Spring Fling. A boutique charity shopping event for gifts, fashion and goodies from over 40 artists and vendors. Tickets are $10. 100% of Ticket Sales benefit educational programming and exhibits at The Building for Kids Children’s Museum. The event is being held Monday, April 23rd from 12-7p.m. at The Building for Kids Children’s Museum. Join the Fun! SHOP! SOCIALIZE! ENJOY!
Fashion on The Fox
Early this month Grassroots stylists: Angie Kustic, Kara Schuh, Scott Richards, Tracey Drews and Jody Fulcer participated in the event Fashion on the Fox. A fashion show that featured innovative spring/summer clothing, hair and makeup trends. We would like to thank Vintique for provided our models with their clothing and Chad Larson Photography for taking pictures of our team during the event. Also a huge thanks to our beautiful models, clients of Grassroots, for helping us make this event successful. The event raised $1,000 for programs to support the Emergency Shelter of the Fox Valley.
Teen Dating Violence
Grassroots is teaming up with Carla Hales, Harbor House Prevention Educator Coordinator, and visiting local high schools during the month of February, which is National Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. Carla will be setting up a informational display during school lunch hours to increase awareness. The students are also having “a wear purple day”. Grassroots stylist: Tracey, Angie, Jody and Kara will be installing purple hair extensions for $10 each. Proceeds will be donated to Harbor House to support future programs.
Here are some interesting facts regarding Teen Dating Violence:
1 in 3 teens experience an abusive dating relationship, by the time they graduate high school.
1 in 3 teens say they are text messaged 10, 20, 30 times an hour by a partner keeping tabs on them.
A 2011 survey of 1500 Outagamie County freshmen and sophmore students revealed 20% of them had experienced or were currently experiencing an abusive dating relationship.
82% of parents do not think dating abuse is an issue for teens. They are wrong.
Green Schools, One Bottle Cap at a Time
- For every two caps that you return, receive a scratch-off card to win exciting discounts on NEW ColourStylist products.
- The salon that returns the most caps will win a one-day, in-salon advanced education class.
Learn more about Global Green USA’s Green School Makeover Competition
Global Green USA
2218 Main Street, 2nd Floor
Santa Monica, CA 90405
Cystic Fibrosis
My name is Stephanie. My son, Noah, is 7 years old and has a chronic life-threatening disease called Cystic Fibrosis. This disease affects his lungs and digestive systems. Throughout the month of March, Grassroots a Salon, will be selling rose pin-ups and candy bars to help raise money towards the Great Strides campaign. This will help fund the research for new therapies and hopefully a cure someday. Your support is so greatly needed. Please make a donation by buying a rose pin-up or go online to Great Strides and click to donate.
I keep hope in my heart that someday they will find a cure and save the lives of all the people living with Cystic Fibrosis, including my son. Please donate today. Thank You!
Here is the story behind the rose pin-ups:
65 Roses” is what some children with cystic fibrosis (CF) call their disease because the words are much easier for them to pronounce.
Mary G. Weiss became a volunteer for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in 1965 after learning that her three little boys had CF. Her duty was to call every civic club, social and service organization seeking financial support for CF research. Mary’s 4-year-old son, Richard, listened closely to his mother as she made each call.
![]() The Weiss brothers, Richard, 5; Arthur, 7 and Anthony, 16 months. |
After several calls, Richard came into the room and told his Mom, “I know what you are working for.” Mary was dumbstruck because Richard did not know what she was doing, nor did he know that he had cystic fibrosis. With some trepidation, Mary asked, “What am I working for, Richard?” He answered, “You are working for 65 Roses.” Mary was speechless.
He could not see the tears running down Mary’s cheeks as she stammered, “Yes Richard, I’m working for 65 Roses.”
Since 1965, the term “65 Roses” has been used by children of all ages to describe their disease. But, making it easier to say does not make CF any easier to live with. The “65 Roses” story has captured the hearts and emotions of all who have heard it. The rose, appropriately the ancient symbol of love, has become a symbol of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
Hair Raising Makeover ~ Your Change Creates Change!
Makeovers are FUN, no matter how you slice cut & color them. They’re extra special when they’re offered as a fundraiser, raising monies for awesome things like a brand new Student Publishing Center at Butte des Morts Elementary School in Menasha…with extra funds raised going to a Heifer International project through the school.
Stylist Deb Gehrke teamed up with one of her favorite clients, Mrs. Jennifer Peterson, Media Specialist at Butte des Morts Elementary to create a one of kind Hair Raising Event. (This is turning into an annual thing…click here to see last year’s video reveal!)
Penny jars with mug shots of the Super PTO President and Parent Volunteer Extraordianaire attached are stationed in the library at the school, as well as at the reception desk inside Grassroots a Salon.
At school, students are bringing their loose change to drop into the penny jar of their choice…voting with their change, to get one of the two ‘in need of a makeover’ candidates the change they’re after.
Stop in to the salon to see the candidates! (One has a whole lot of hair…and well, one doesn’t) …and if you have any loose change, take a look at the mug shots on the side of the penny jar…you’ll see from their expressions that dropping your $ in the jar will be much appreciated! Change for Change! How GREAT is that?
Change (paper money work great, too!) is being collected between now and next Saturday (Feb. 19th) when the WINNER will be announced and the MAKEOVER will take place.
Deb has her creative wheels spinning and is honored and excited to be involved in this brilliant hair raising event.
BIG Thanks to Jen for her magnificent commitment and unwavering creative and organizational skills!