A health initiative operating in three Madison-area barbershops is pairing preventive screenings for Black men with hands-on health-care experience for middle school boys. The Future Health Leaders Barbershop Screening Initiative offers blood pressure checks and wellness guidance in familiar community settings. Students work alongside nurses and other health professionals as they help provide screenings and advice. Organizers say Dane County has about 14,300 Black men and that 71% have received preventive screenings through the program. The initiative’s organizers say that visiting a barbershop can make care feel more approachable for people who may feel uncomfortable going to a doctor. Anxiety can also affect blood pressure readings, they noted. The program is based at Marveliz Cutz, JP Hair Design and Resilent Hair Design. Dean Health Plan has announced it will provide financial assistance in the coming years, though no funding amount was given. Aaron Perry, president and founder of Rebalanced-Life Wellness, said the long-term aim is to support a pipeline of boys from middle school through high school graduation and help them earn four-year college scholarships. The initiative brings health services and career exposure into neighborhood spaces, connecting preventive care with opportunities for young people to learn about the health-care field.