Touching lives one haircut at a time
Giving Back with A Movement of Shear Faith
By Joseph Livshin
Syracuse, N.Y., Feb. 11, 2019 – Is a haircut something that we just take for granted these days? What feelings go through our mind after getting up out of the barber’s chair or a salon chair? We feel better, cleaner and happier. So now think of the feeling you would have if you were homeless. You can’t afford food, clothes, a shower, let alone a haircut. That changes your prospective a little, doesn’t it?
Andrea Capodagli, a junior, majoring in public relations at Syracuse University, has been spreading the happiness and fresh feeling of a new haircut once a week at the Brady Faith Center on South Ave. Wednesday mornings from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., Capodagli gives those in need a little something back, a haircut and a hug.
Armed with her clippers, scissors and some love, she started herself on a path of giving and inspiration that is now staring its second year. A Movement of Shear Faith began as an applied learning experience project in 2017 through Onondaga Community College in Syracuse. Capodagli said, “I had to create a title for my project and it just came to me. The shear is what we call scissors in cosmetology. It had that double meaning in my title, so it was perfectly meant to be.”
As a New York State licensed cosmetologist, Capodagli has the training needed to give people a clean new look. Having faith gives her the ability to help and love those who are traditionally left behind in society. “I have struggled in my own life financially, and I knew I needed to be there,” Capodagli said. “I used to work downtown and would drive past homeless individuals begging on the corners. It really bothered and hurt me, and I knew I had to do something.”
Capodagli sets up her table inside the Brady Faith Center and doesn’t just give those coming in a new haircut. She gives them hope, love and a smile. The turn out can vary from one or two people, to sometimes 10 people eagerly waiting their turn. They can get a little food and a warm place to patiently wait inside the Brady Faith Center. The feedback from her clients “is a huge smile like I have never seen before,” Capodagli said.
This venture isn’t just a small project to give a little back to her community. Capodagli hopes she can take A Movement of Shear Faith to the next level in the years to come. Turning it into an LLC or non-profit so she can take it on the road in an RV so those who have nothing don’t have to come to her. This would also give her the ability she does not currently have, to be able to wash hair. Capodagli explains, “I want to go to them. They are already struggling, and I feel that is the least I could do to give them back a little confidence to keep moving forward.”
Capodagli isn’t looking for publicity or recognition. “The constant stream of ‘thank you’, a hug, so much praise and love I get in return, that feeling is indescribable. What they give to me is far more than I could ever give to them,” she said. “I am just blown away by the feedback and love I receive.”
In a time in which having faith isn’t the “in thing to do,” it is what drives Capodagli. Attending school fulltime, taking care of her dog Lindy and taking time for A Movement of Shear Faith may be a lot for some, but her faith keeps her pushing forward and doing more. She also works as a crisis line worker for the Suicide Prevention Line. “I will be here for any one at any time. It just happened that God presented me an opportunity for me to give back,” Capodagli said.
A principle that Capodagli says she lives her life by is that “you have the power to create something bigger than yourself when you step outside your comfort zone. Your world can change in ways you never thought possible.”
Hello! I’m Andrea, the founder of A Movement of Shear Faith. As a NYS Licensed Cosmetologist, I serve those who are in need by cutting their hair without compensation. I want to restore hope and confidence to those who are suffering. I want to help individuals grow stronger and gain confidence to enrich their lives
You have the power to create something bigger than yourself. When you step out of your comfort zone, your world can change in ways you never thought possible.
I established A Movement of Shear Faith during the Fall of 2017 when I was a student attending Onondaga Community College. I attended for 6 weeks called, “Student Conversation Circles.” The overall purpose is to provide a forum for students to share their perspectives & experiences strengthening appreciation of diversity and empathy for others. After completing these classes, I was allowed to apply for an Applied Learning Experience Project. This is when A Movement of Shear Faith began. I wrote a letter to the Chief Diversity Counselor and Vice President of OCC that you can find below. My proposal was approved and I carried out my project on the Friday before Christmas. I cut hair for the homeless for 4 hours at the Brady Faith Center.
1 month later…I decided that wasn’t the end. That wasn’t enough. Something was pulling me back.
The Brady Faith Center is a cozy, heart-warming place located on South Avenue in Syracuse NY whose mission is to meet the spiritual, educational, and social needs of individuals and families through Eucharistic liturgies, human development, and educational and religious programs, they visit the sick, the incarcerated, families in their homes, and wherever support is needed.
The significance of the Brady Faith Center in my life is that it’s a welcoming place with a loving group of people that I consider family who supports my service and allows me to carry out my mission of helping those who are suffering.
We all suffer. Sometimes suffering can just look like having a hard time getting out of bed, putting on a smile, and pushing through our days. Many who I encounter have overcome extremely challenging situations, and they are still pushing life back stronger than ever. I feel inspired here. We can all come together and remember that we are not alone in our sufferings. I give the smallest gift of a haircut- but truly, they are giving me something that I can’t put into words. A feeling that is like nothing else I’ve experienced. Each beautiful individual that I meet, gives me more than I could ever ask for.
How A Movement of Shear Faith began…
25 October 2017
Applied Learning Experience: Proposal
Dear Vice President Eunice D. Williams and to all who this may concern,
The cold winter months are coming and those who can’t afford a nice, warm home, are left to face the harsh Syracuse weather on the streets. When I was employed with Eye Consultants of Syracuse, I always passed many homeless people on the side of the road. I didn’t hand them money, instead I gave a food item I had from my lunch: a banana, water bottle, yogurt, or granola bar. I never felt it was enough. Today, I yearn to take stronger actions towards those who suffer greater than I ever have. Mother Teresa wisely said, “Each one of them is Jesus in disguise.”
Before attending Onondaga Community College (OCC) as a Communications student, I became a New York State Licensed Cosmetologist. A Cosmetologist is a person licensed to provide cosmetic treatments to the hair, skin, and nails. I have 4 years of professional experience working in the industry. I would like to use my acquired skills in cosmetology and connect this to my applied learning experience. This project will help support those who are low-income citizens in the community. I will be working with the Brady Faith Center, whose mission is, “to meet the spiritual, educational, and social needs of individuals and families in the Southwest Community of Syracuse.” For my applied learning experience, I will be volunteering 3-5 hours of my time for a day at the Brady Faith Center. I am fortunate to be attending OCC. Those who cannot afford to receive the educational tools that are essential for them to succeed, miss out on advice and opportunities like the ones I have graciously received. I hope to spread this knowledge and awareness to prepare individuals for job interviews. I will be providing services to those in need with haircuts, grooming tips, nails/make-up advice, and any additional necessary resources to prepare individuals for the professional world.
If I am successful, I would consider doing this service for my community in the future. Specific knowledge and skills that I would like to acquire are advancing my interpersonal communication skills with diverse backgrounds of people who have different values and beliefs. I want to apply my communication studies to the “real world,” while at the same time helping those who need me.
I hope to gain hope. I want to give warmth and love to those who are suffering and comfort to the many who feel there is no hope left. I want everyone to know that they are not alone in this struggle we call life. We all suffer in many ways and this is one place that I feel I can make an impression. I hope to restore faith and love to those who are lost, which has been shown to me so many times when I have experienced personal suffering.
I look forward to supporting the Brady Faith Center and those in need, to find peace and happiness through my project. I am calling this project “A Movement of Shear Faith.” I have faith my experience can move the hearts of many who are struggling and looking for guidance to direct them towards the beginning of a new path, which could change their lives. With your help, I can begin to show individuals there is hope through the struggles they face every day. Listening to their stories will teach me how to be more self-less and how to take actions towards healing and growing in faith with one another. I would feel humbled to know I could help create a better situation for those who are homeless. If I had enough money, I would give it to all of those who are on the streets, so no one would be homeless. I feel I want the impossible to happen, but I wish no one would be homeless this winter. Every accomplishment begins with the decision to try. Everyone is special and should feel loved and respected. Everyone has something unique to offer to the world and each of us has the power to impact someone else’s life. I need your help to make this happen. Please help me make a difference.
One of my favorite Bible passages pertains to this mission I would like to begin at the Brady Faith Center with the support from OCC. Matthew 25: 35-40 reads, “For I was hungry, and you gave me food, I was thirsty, and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.’ Then the righteous will answer him and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?’ And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.”
Thank you for your time and consideration,
Andrea M. Capodagli
You better worry and you better get busy, because there is much to be done, the laborers are few and the Master will soon return. And what will you be doing when he does? Relaxing and reveling in happiness? I hope not because it will be short-lived for sure, on the other side of eternity.
SIMPLELANE.LIFE 
Leave a comment