Jerome Archer, Owner of Platinum Cuts Inc.

Jerome Archer is the owner of Platinum Cuts Inc., a unisex salon in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, and a community leader who has spent decades turning his barbershop into far more than a place to get a haircut. Featured on ABC7 New York’s Here and Now with Sandra Bookman, Jerome has been recognized for his work bridging the gap between Black men and the mental health resources they need.

Rooted in the neighborhood where his parents met, Jerome’s work is driven by legacy. What began in the late 1990s with HIV prevention — distributing condoms and holding candid conversations with clients — grew over time into a full community resource model addressing everything from sexual health to mental wellness. Through the Arthur Ashe Institute for Urban Health’s “Barbershop Talk with Brothers” program, Jerome completed mental health certification training and now integrates health literacy, screening support, and referrals directly into his clients’ everyday experience.

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