Aaron Perry Will Launch National Health Book Tour
Beginning in October 2026, the two-year tour aims to improve health outcomes for Black men across 17 states.
Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in Diabetes
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Founder Aaron Perry is set to launch a nationwide book tour in mid-October 2026 to address significant health disparities among Black men in the Stroke and Diabetes Belts. Supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the initiative will utilize a barbershop-based model to foster health conversations and provide essential resources.
Why it matters
The initiative seeks to increase community trust and accessibility to health services by meeting men where they are. By leveraging barbershops as hubs for preventive care, the project aims to help reduce systemic health inequities facing Black men in high-risk regions.
Aaron Perry has lived with diabetes for 33 years and has mentored 9,000 diabetic individuals. His upcoming tour will partner with approximately 200 barbershops to reach an estimated 50,000 men as part of the broader 100,000-person target.
The players
Aaron Perry
He is the founder of Rebalanced-Life Wellness and a long-time advocate for health equity.
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
This philanthropic organization is providing financial backing for the national health tour.
Rebalanced-Life Wellness
This organization focuses on improving health outcomes for Black men through community-based models.
The details
Perry, who founded Rebalanced-Life Wellness, will promote his five-book series titled The Doctor Says I Have... Now, What? during the tour. The books utilize a fictional character named Kenneth to explore health conditions and support networks, providing a framework for the tour's preventive health screenings and education efforts.
Timeline
2016: Perry launched the original barbershop health clinic model.
Mid-October 2026: The national book tour is scheduled to begin.
Next two years: The scheduled duration of the national health book tour.
The Big Picture
This project aligns with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's community health initiatives, which prioritize funding for localized solutions to national health crises. By scaling the barbershop model, the project represents a shift toward peer-led, grassroots intervention in high-risk zones.
Readers in the target regions can utilize these barbershop clinics for accessible preventive health screenings and educational support. The book series offers individuals a practical, narrative-driven guide to managing health conditions and building support networks.
The takeaway
Empowering community members through trusted local networks can significantly improve health outcomes in underserved populations. Individuals can improve their own health literacy by seeking out peer-led support programs that prioritize culturally relevant education.
Further reading
For more information on health equity and resources, visit the Diabetes section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Madison365.
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