MILWAUKEE — Lorenzo "Barber Zoe" Davis grew up on the north side of Milwaukee. He's been cutting hair for 14 years, and just like a fresh cut, Barber Zoe knows what it's like to get a fresh start.
"I was 17 years old facing 60 years, I just couldn't believe it. I felt like I blew it. To them, my mom, my dad," said Davis.
Zoe found himself incarcerated as a teen for robbery, but his story doesn't end there.
"I completed my sentence. The first thing I promised my mom was that I would go back to high school and finish my diploma," said Davis.
He attained his diploma and went on to further his education, but he felt that he still had work to do.
"In July 2008, I was walking past a barbershop, and I said, 'Y'all hiring?' They said, 'Yeah, we're always hiring, and if you can cut hair, we'll give you a job.' I scraped up all the money I had that day, and I bought some clippers," said Davis.
It was that investment that would change his life.
"When I bought those clippers, I knew it was time for a change," said Davis.
Thursday, Zoe is giving back in any way he can, hosting school supply drives, voter registration campaigns, Thanksgiving meals for the needy, and free haircuts for kids. He will be giving more free haircuts at the upcoming Juneteenth celebration. He says he owes his success to his parents and the barbershop.
"It saved my life. All the things I've seen growing up, just taking so much, now I have to be productive for the community. I got to give back to all the people I took from," said Davis.
I asked Zoe, what would he say to that 17-year-old behind bars.
"Never give up just 'cause you got caught up in a jam, in a bad place. That's not the end game for you," said Davis.
Visit Zoe at his Barbershop and find out more about how you can help his efforts to make the community better.
Zoe's Barber Elite & Beauty salon is located at 4919 W Fond du Lac Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53216
It’s about time to watch on your time. Stream local news and weather 24/7 by searching for “TMJ4” on your device.
Available for download on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and more.
