Presence

A legal gun owner, barber, and activist are a few of the hats that Devon Reynolds wears as a community figure in the Maplewood neighborhood of Rochester, N.Y. but most importantly, he is a father to four young boys. The motivation to open a barber shop and a food pantry all comes down to the legacy he wants to leave for his sons. “They are my reincarnation,” said Reynolds. “To see myself reincarnate before I die is a blessing.” The Maplewood area zip code, 14613, is one of the 8 zip codes in Monroe County that was declared by the African American Health Coalition as needing special attention for its high rates of food insecurity. According to a research study from the National Library of Medicine, “a high prevalence of food insecurity in urban regions likely serves as a marker for socioeconomic disadvantage and intentional disinvestment.” “It’s basically survival.” said Reynolds. “You gotta be able to feed your family. You gotta be able to feed yourself. And when we don’t have the opportunity like some others, it’s easy to come down to shooting somebody.” Reynolds felt the need to obtain his pistol permit in 2020 as a means of protection, which he received in 2021. “There’s a high volume of crime, a low volume of compassion, and I have four boys I have to get home to.”

Devon Jr. and Jayden kiss Reynolds while hanging out outside his Dewey Ave shop and food pantry during a “Feed the People” event he hosted where he barbecued burgers and hot dogs to give out to those in need in the community. The food pantry, named Sweet Ida Mae Food Pantry, in honor of his late grandmother, Ida, who ran a food pantry out of her apartment in Harlem, NY, providing peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to those in need.

Reynolds loads a shotgun while practicing his shooting with his friend Brandon at Genesee Conservation League in Penfield, N.Y. on Feb. 28, 2022. According to Reynolds, it was his first time shooting the shotgun, despite owning it for awhile. Recently, Reynolds acquired his New York State Pistol Permit, which he applied for to legally carry a pistol in a concealed area, as a means of protection.

Reynolds talks to Donovan Wint, while he stocks the shelves in his pantry on March 20, 2022. Wint is a contractor that he hired to help him build out the pantry. Wint, originally from Jamaica, is a resident of the Dewey Ave neighborhood. Reynolds, a black business owner, always works to hire other black business owners as a means of supporting each other.

Devon hangs up a photo of him and his first born son, Devon Jr. on a wall of photos of family and friends at his barber shop on Dewey Avenue.

Reynolds hugs a friend at the funeral of Charles Robinson III. Robinson was killed on March 19 at a party on State St. in Downtown Rochester. Reynolds cut Robinson’s hair the day before he was killed. “We lose someone major every year. Ever since the Boys and Girls Club shooting.” In 2015, three young men were killed after exiting the Boys and Girls Club on Genesee St in Rochester after leaving a basketball game. The suspects were from the Maplewood neighborhood.

Reynolds watches as one of 4 sons, Jayden, plays with a airsoft gun at their home in the Maplewood neighborhood. “When he’s eight, he’s going to be shooting a real one.” said Reynolds.

A detail of Reynolds custom-made leather barber’s apron is seen while he cuts hair at his salon. As an activist, Reynolds looks up to many political figures such as Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr., Bobby Seale, Huey P. Newton, among others.

Reynolds dances with his co-workers, Javon Bradley and Cinee Fogle, after hours at his salon on Lyell Avenue. Javon, Devon, and Cinee were three of the original five founding members of the Brothers and Sisters Unisex Salon in 2015.

Devon walks his youngest son, Elijah, into the atrium at First Genesis Baptist Church on Sept. 25, 2022 for National Day of Remembrance for Murder Victims, an event put on by ROC The Peace, a grassroots organization based in Rochester working to combat gun violence.

Reynolds shops for food products for the pantry at the Price Rite in Maplewood neighborhood. Reynolds supplies the food pantry through purchasing the food himself and through donations. The Price Rite is the only retail grocery store in the 14613 area code.

Two of Reynold’s four sons, Devon Jr., center, and Jayden, left, play in the clothing donations room, an extension of the food pantry.

Community members, activists, and political figures listen as Reynolds speaks during the grand opening of the Sweet Ida Mae Food Pantry on April 4, 2022. Reynolds was honored with a proclamation award from New York State Senator Jeremy Cooney for opening the food pantry and his dedicated activist work to his community.

Reynolds feeds his newborn son, Elijah, while watching the movie “Sonic the Hedgehog 2” with 2 of his other sons, Devon Jr. and Carter at Greece Ridge Mall in Greece, N.Y. “Black wealth, ownership, being able to identify who they are before they hit their twenties, and hopefully a stronger sense of family a mother or father in the household, black love. That's my goal.” said Reynolds.

Devon Reynolds walks out of his new barber shop in the Lyell Avenue Neighborhood in Rochester. Reynolds opened up a second salon for the female stylists that were originally at his first shop in order to open up the food pantry and to expand his business. “Small businesses are the heartbeat of America,” said Reynolds. “For any thriving community, it's the small businesses that are at the center of it.”