Fathers In The Park 2025

Straight From the Chair: Fathers in the Park – A Real One for the Community

Yo, what’s good family — it’s S. Jay, owner of Keep Em Sliced, and I just wanted to take a minute to reflect on something real special that went down this past weekend. I had the honor of pulling up to Fathers in the Park at Snow Hinton Park in Tuscaloosa, and man… it was more than just an event — it was a moment.

Big love to Tuscaloosa One Place for the invite and for putting together something that truly celebrated what fatherhood and community are all about. Being able to give back using my own hands — the clippers, the blade, and the gift God gave me — that’s the type of work that feeds the soul.

Giving Back, One Cut at a Time

When I got there, I wasn’t looking to just post up a table and pass out business cards. Nah — I came to serve. We set up the Keep Em Sliced tent and offered free cuts and line-ups for the fellas — especially the fathers and their sons. Some were long overdue for a cleanup, and seeing their whole energy shift after that fresh cut? Man, that hit different.

There was one moment I won’t forget — this young boy sat down with his pops right behind him, just watching. When I turned the chair around and showed that mirror? Lil man smiled like he just met Spider-Man. That right there is why I do this. It ain’t about the fade, it’s about the feeling. A clean cut can shift your whole mindset. It’s respect. It’s confidence. It’s legacy.

From the Heart, Not the Hype

What made the whole day even more powerful was how real it felt. No big egos, no pushing brands — just people pulling up with purpose. Dads playing football with their kids, little ones getting faces painted and playing on the water slides, folks vibing to the music and the smell of food in the air. It felt like Tuscaloosa was hugging itself, you feel me?

We had deep convos, good laughs, and even better energy. And that’s what community is supposed to feel like. Nobody's superior to another. — we’re just brothers and sisters looking out for each other.

Salute to the Real Ones

So again — big shoutout to Tuscaloosa One Place for letting me and the Keep Em Sliced team be involved in something meaningful. They created a space for fathers to be celebrated, not just tolerated.

To all the dads that came through and sat in my chair: Respect. Keep leading. Keep showing up. And keep being the example your little ones can look up to.

And to the city of Tuscaloosa — thank you for embracing me and what I do. This isn’t the last time you’ll see Keep Em Sliced in the community. As long as I got hands and clippers, I’ll keep using them to serve where I’m needed.

Until next time —

Stay fresh. Stay solid. Keep Em Sliced.