Antonio Brown is a dedicated father and remarkable figure in St. Petersburg, Florida who has combined his barbering skills with a passion for promoting literacy among Black and Brown children. As the owner of Central Station Barbershop and Grooming, Brown founded The Competitive Readers Coalition (CRC), formerly known as The Barbershop Book Club, in 2016. The CRC is an innovative literacy program that encourages children to read books while getting their haircuts. For every book a child reads, they receive a free haircut, up to 24 books and haircuts annually. This initiative has had a significant impact, with over 25,000 free books donated and more than 18,000 free haircuts provided to St. Petersburg youth.

Brown additionally promotes financial literacy by encouraging parents to save the money they would have spent on haircuts for their children’s future. His barbershop has become a hub for mentorship and personal development, fostering self-esteem and confidence in young boys.

Brown’s efforts have gained national attention, including an appearance on The Jennifer Hudson Show. He has received several accolades, including the Congressional Trailblazer Award and the L.I.F.T. Award. The CRC has expanded its reach, with books distributed across 10 barbershops in the Tampa Bay area.

He is a graduate of the Leadership St. Pete Class of 2022, a St. Petersburg Sunshine City Ambassador, and a Barbering Instructor at Pinellas Technical College. He has also served as the president of the 13th St. Heights Neighborhood Association and was a board member for Community Development and Training.