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Defense Cuts | #CutsAcrossAmerica

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A pioneer of great nation Benjamin Franklin once said, 

"One who sacrifices they’re freedoms for security deserves neither."

I belive in a spirited model that freedom without a life is not true freedom but a life without freedom is not a life at all. Our men and women warriors in our military and first responders may not realize that a Warrior is one whom bears the collective weights of his nation. This weight is one we can carry.. But it wears deep, physically and emotionally. Myself being Marine combat veteran and Barber I pride in the trust between myself and my client, to allow for them to take that pack off they're back and feel comfortable once again for over 10 years in and out of service. I've since decided to take my experiences and God-given craftsmanship as a barber on a tour across our nation, to reignite our veterans passions of the dying american dream by way of a simple yet effective haircut & camaraderie motivation.

Steadfast with a new mission, I plan to be rolling through your towns city and states, campaign style to answer those calls of distress. Im asking for your help because I've built a sustainable barber parlor in an American beauty! An Airstream trailer! I've retrofitted this trailer to keep my overhead minimal as to be able to head across the country while providing services. During this we will be filming a documentary and ongoing web-seris, with a corresponding scrapbook of our transformations along this endeavor to show our fellow veterans how to survive in a time where we cannot depend on the very systems in place to help us transition as civilian warriors. We’ve completed our initial test-phase when we departed form our home in New York, earlier this year and made our way down to Miami, by way of pure donations, event coordination while continuing to live our minimal sustainable lifestyle on the road. We have our national travel plan mapped and and we will be needing your funding to allocate into these three major goals.

Our main immediate issue is to procure a vehicle that we can tow the shop and safely reside and work in while along this tour and allow us to finish some final renovations within the barbershop. (Lighting, exterior, and dent removal & wrap job) 

Allow for us to upgrade our film equipment (camera, mic, lighting) for a more low profile professional look and feel that will make the client feel relaxed and comfortable within a confined space. This will also cover pre/post production costs and distribution.

We will also need to Finish our marketing and branding, reward incentives (shirts and coffee table photo books) to send out, (to you!) and of course get ourselves across the nation safely within the allotted budget with help from some good old fashioned haircuts!

Please be advised (military talk) This is not a fund me across America trip or charity where you will not know where youre donations will truly go, as a marine this has to all be top notch and I've painstakingly militarily strategized and designed this endeavor so we can provide the highest grade services and involve the donors, (you) to be a part of this ongoing film project by voicing your opinions and helping one another. This is a social project and movement to help our veterans keep self awareness, and preservation of dignity to progress forward with finding the help they may need. This is crucial as most veterans are not even aware of possible mental intibilabity until it may unfortunately be too late. Such issues as over-medicated veterans the suicide count is roughly staggering about 22 vetrans per day, and with a staggering national veteran homelessness rate, is alarming and appalling. This needs more than just national attention, and immediate front line on the grassroots remediation. With this I plan to utilize the wisdom passed down by other warriors in the intimate settings of one to one camaraderie between the barber and his client, more importantly vet2vet and create custom roadmaps for countless veterans and they're families to follow in suit, to find inner and outer peace, to focus on protecting our domestic tranquility, so that they may be able to live life and find the pursuit happiness once again… The American dream… Remember no man is left behind, I firmly stand by that.

Honor: This is the bedrock of our character. It is the quality that empowers Marines to exemplify the ultimate in ethical and moral behavior: to never lie, cheat, or steal; to abide by an uncompromising code of integrity; to respect human dignity; and to have respect and concern for each other. It represents the maturity, dedication, trust, and dependability that commit Marines to act responsibly, be accountable for their actions, fulfill their obligations, and hold others accountable for their actions.
Courage: The heart of our Core Values, courage is the mental, moral, and physical strength ingrained in Marines that sees them through the challenges of combat and the mastery of fear, and to do what is right, to adhere to a higher standard of personal conduct, to lead by example, and to make tough decisions under stress and pressure. It is the inner strength that enables a Marine to take that extra step.
Commitment: This is the spirit of determination and dedication within,  that leads to professionalism and mastery of my art. It promotes the highest order of discipline for unit and self and is the ingredient that instills dedication to Corps and country 24 hours a day, pride, concern for others, and an unrelenting determination to achieve a standard of excellence in every endeavor. Commitment is the value that establishes the Marine as the warrior and citizen others strive to emulate.
This is my new mission...

#HaircutsAcrossAmerica

Media and Press:

Special Guest on The Hard Line with Ed BerlinerThe Somebodies BlogLive on The Scissor Salute Show NYWSVN 7 Ft LauderdaleLinks:
Featured Cover and Article on Outside Interests
Airstream Enthusiast Magazine
http://outsideinterests.info/article/airstream-barber/
The Protectors Portal: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/protectorsportal/2015/06/22/nicolas-neekz-martinez-afghanistan-veteran-traveling-barber 
The Somebodies Blog  http://www.thesomebodies.org/barber-crosses-the-country-to-change-lives-for-the-needy/ 
Miami Sun Times  http://miami.suntimes.com/mia-news/7/97/229696/marine-vet-travels-to-cut-hair-for-fellow-vets-others 
WTOC 11 Savannah GA  http://www.wtoc.com/story/27944864/former-marine-turned-barber-travels-country-giving-veterans-homeless-haircuts 
CBS 46 Atlanta  http://www.cbs46.com/story/27944864/former-marine-turned-barber-travels-country-giving-veterans-homeless-haircuts
The Costal Courier http://coastalcourier.com/archives/71531/preview/



Risks and challenges

Lets help our Nations Veterans!!! The risk is in NOT allowing for these people to get the attention they deserve!!!

*Stretch Goal* 
Create an online Database of barbershops across the country, based from mutual interest and cross marketing, these 15 second- 15 minute interviews and pitches will allow for the barbering to have an “Angie's list” of shops to reference to. 

**Major Stretch goal** 
Complete this trip across the nation, hand teach veterans my craft this business doctrine in they're own cities, become independent successful businessman and barbers. Hopefully create a community of veteran outreach mobile barber parlors in every major city. Based on this provable concept! #SharkTank anyone!?

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Donations 

  • Lori Mardock
    • $5 
    • 8 yrs
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Organizer

Nicolàs E Martinez
Organizer
New York, NY

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