Professional men’s attire is available through a new “legacy” shop at IMPACT Community Action. The Otto Beatty Jr. Men’s Shop provides men recovering from the economic impacts of the pandemic with professional clothing, grooming services and educational resources.
The Beatty family, along with the Franklin County Commissioners and IMPACT Community Action representatives, opened the shop on Monday, honoring Otto’s legacy with a ribbon cutting ceremony.
Commissioner John O’Grady says Otto, who passed away last spring, was a community leader that gave so much and asked for so little in return.
“We are proud to support the legacy of Otto Beatty, Jr., a trailblazer in our community who was known to mentor and uplift others,” said Commissioner Erica C. Crawley. “We are carrying out his legacy by providing clothing and offering an opportunity for residents to feel good about themselves for an interview or meeting.”
Last week the commissioners approved more than $330,000 in funding for the men’s shop, located at IMPACT Community Action, 711 Southwood Ave. The shop offers free men’s professional attire in various sizes, along with grooming services like haircuts to help build a polished, job-ready appearance. The shop aims to serve more than 300 men a year.
“Otto wholeheartedly believed that dressing in professional attire can change how a person feels about themselves and how they are perceived by others, and this is the vision that our family wishes to bring to the Otto Beatty Jr. Men’s Shop,” said Congresswoman Joyce Beatty, Otto’s wife.
The Beatty family donated Otto’s collection of suits, shirts, ties, shoes and accessories. Partnering with the Nehemiah House of Refuge and Dress for Success, the shop operates through appointments with clients that are part of IMPACT’s workforce development programs and need appropriate work or interview attire.
“This morning I put on my Otto Beatty, Jr. special tie and somehow, I felt stronger, wiser and more powerful…ready to face whatever comes my way,” said Bo Chilton, CEO of IMPACT. “I want everyone to have that same sense of pride and confidence when they come to the Otto Beatty Jr. Men’s Shop.”
A former member of the Ohio House of Representatives, Otto was a community figure in Central Ohio who worked with the Columbus Metropolitan Area Community Action Organization, a predecessor to IMPACT Community Action.
“This initiative is personal for me,” said Commissioner Kevin L. Boyce. “When I think about the substantial legacy the Beatty family has had in Central Ohio, and particularly the impact the Beattys have had on the Black men in this community, I think about what defines this opportunity for IMPACT and about the kind of person Otto was; he was trusted, respected, appreciated and most importantly loved. I hope we all live up to that legacy in ways that will continue to change and build Central Ohio, and I carry with me the wisdom that my great friend and mentor Otto Beatty, Jr. shared by always doing the hard work.”
For more information, visit www.impactca.org.