Today we’d like to introduce you to Daunte Paschal.
Hi Daunte, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Daunte DeVon Paschal is a licensed professional barber originally from Northeast Portland and currently based in Dallas, TX. A proud graduate of Moler Barber College in downtown Portland, Daunte has played a pivotal role in training and employing many of the current barbers in the Portland Metropolitan area. His impressive clientele includes elite professional athletes and celebrities, and he has been featured in prominent publications and television shows such as The Source, ESPN Magazine, and ESPN’s ‘The Life,’ along with various news articles across the United States. Recognized as “the official Nike Barber,” Daunte has been a vendor for Nike Inc. since 2006.
Currently, Daunte is contracted with the Dallas Mavericks, further solidifying his reputation in the sports world. In 2016, he was honored as one of the $25,000 prize winners in the Portland Development Commission’s “PDX StartUp Business Challenge” for his outstanding business concepts and contributions to urban development. As a real estate agent and legacy wealth builder, Daunte is not only the founder of the hair care line “Man U Script” but also serves as the President and CEO of the “Making A Dash Scholarship Fund,” which supports at-risk youth aspiring to become barbers.
Mission statement
Our mission is to elevate the art of barbering through exceptional craftsmanship, mentorship, and community engagement. We are committed to empowering aspiring barbers and fostering urban development by providing training, opportunities, and resources. With a dedication to excellence, innovation, and giving back, we aim to inspire confidence, creativity, and success in both our clients and the next generation of industry leaders.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The accolades are always praised, but the journey wasn’t always sweet. I begin cutting hair in the 7th grade, to save my Mom the time and expense of taking me to the barber shop. To me, it felt as natural as writing my name, but I never imagined it as a career. After chasing a Hoop Dream, going through the trials and errors of young adulthood, street hustling, and at risk behavior, I decided to give barber school a shot. It saved my life! I realized that I was better at adding value to the community, than I was at dividing it. Today, I have an exclusive relationship with Nike to cut basketball’s elite! LeBron, KD, Kyrie, and the late Kobe Bryant, to name a few! In theory, I guess I made it to the NBA after all. The lights and cameras are affirming, but every time I step foot on my mat to cut hair, my humble motivation is to pay it forward, by sharing the gift that gave me purpose. I don’t cut hair to be popular or rich. I cut hair because I’m thankful.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m more than a licensed professional barber out of Northeast Portland, I’ve been a vendor of Nike Inc. since 2006, and known on social media, as “the official Nike Barber,” because although there are many who have since worked with Nike Basketball, and other departments of the leading sports brand, I was original commissioned and assigned as the “only,” associated barber. What’s sets me apart is my experience and continued relevance as a mentor and influencer in the industry.
To date, I’m most proud of the “Making A Dash Scholarship Fund,” established in my name, because I was was once told create something that was outlasts me. So I did.
Established specifically for African American students in North and
Northeast Portland, Making A Dash is a scholarship fund aimed at providing paid tuition for recipients to attend a barber Institute following their high school graduation. This initiative is dedicated to offering deserving youth the chance to pursue a vocational education and become the best versions of themselves.
As the beginning and end of life are predetermined, it is the dash in between that you have the power to define; Making A Dash Scholarship Fund provides a runway for young people to strive to make their dash a meaningful and impactful one.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
My family and my faith matter most to me. I can speak encouraging words, and perform influential acts, but if it isn’t acceptable in the sight of God, or making an impact in the lives of my family, it’s all in vain.
In the end, there will be words spoken over you; words of expression about who you were. I don’t want to leave a legacy that’s hard to define or one that doesn’t leve an inheritance for my children’s children.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linedup.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dauntefamous?igsh=MXRtb2Vhc2RyaW43OQ==&utm_source=ig_contact_invite
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578830657916
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daunt%C3%A8-paschal-sr-63b60915/
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@dauntepaschal6932?si=SA7tDLl4i2yXqa1F
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/daunteskeystodallas?igsh=MW5td3dsb2M1cGpxeA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
