Lee Lewis, known as “Big Lee,” is a Spokane barber with aspirations far beyond cutting hair. Owner of the Chop Shop, Lewis is originally from Las Vegas, Nevada, and moved to Spokane in 2003 to work at Kaiser Aluminum – a decision he says saved his life.
Reflecting on his 20s, Lewis describes himself as being directionless.
“I wasn’t doing anything positive in Las Vegas,” he recalls. “Everyone I went to school with ended up in prison, in trouble with the law, or worse, dead. I needed a fresh start.”
Working at Kaiser gave Lewis that fresh start, but he soon realized he wanted more.
“I realized I couldn’t just work in that warehouse day after day for 30 years, you know what I’m saying? Making somebody else rich. I couldn’t do it,” he said. “And I remember barbering was something I always wanted to do.”
Many people thought he was crazy for leaving a well-paying job, but Lewis was determined.
Lewis emphasizes the importance of showing young people there are many roads to success.
“Schools often teach us that success is about memorizing and reproducing information,” he said. “But we’re not asking kids what they can do. We’re just testing if they can regurgitate facts.”
His entrepreneurial journey began as a teen when a mentor introduced him to landscaping and lawn maintenance. Equipped with tools and advice to “knock on doors and mow lawns,” Lewis started his own business at 19. Over two years, he learned the industry under the tutelage of his mentor, discovering how attainable entrepreneurship could be.
“You have to be disciplined and willing to do the work,” he said.
He believes this generation’s drive for innovation, combined with modern tools and resources, creates opportunities for success.
Lewis champions the value of real-world experience over theory alone. Theory over application is ineffective in his eyes, something that can be missed with just college alone. This notion was the impetus behind launching Everyday Mentors, a grassroots initiative helping young men discover their strengths within a supportive peer cohort.
“If you’re passionate about something, we help you build on that while focusing on six life skills: a growth mindset, a positive outlook, daily discipline, emotional maturity, financial literacy, and mental toughness,” Lewis said. “Whether or not you have a college degree, these skills lead to success.”
A pivotal moment in Lewis’ journey came through a customer who became a mentor, Gerald Daniels. Lewis learned about the community work Daniels was doing in Tacoma and got inspired. Daniels encouraged him to act on his vision to uplift young men.
“He’s always been someone I look up to,” Lewis said. “When I told him I wanted to do something community-based, he said, ‘Whenever you’re ready, let me know, and we’ll do it.’”
Partnering with the Brotherhood RISE Center of Spokane, an offshoot of the Rise Center in Tacoma, was a catalyst for Everyday Mentors. According to a news release, the RISE Center aims to “empower individuals experiencing homelessness to overcome challenges and rebuild their lives through holistic support and strategic partnerships.” Everyday Mentors extends this mission by offering mentorship to young men, helping them navigate life’s challenges and unlock their potential.
One cornerstone of the program is the Game Changer Workshops, which teach practical skills and self-empowerment. Lewis speaks on the power of collective action when we forsake the culture of gatekeeping.
“We can make a difference sometimes when we start taking other people off certain pedestals, right? The thing is, I think sometimes we forget that we got our own doggone keys to our own gate,” he said.
By inspiring curiosity and then encouraging action after curiosity, Lewis believes we can break cycles. He highlights the survival skills many youth develop out of necessity, skills that can often surpass what’s taught in high school.
When asked what it means to be powered by courage, Lewis emphasized that balancing logic with intuition and emotion is important. He shared that listening to your gut can silence doubt and teach you to trust yourself when seeking transformation.
“It’s courageous to be vulnerable,” he said.
Breaking cycles is possible within the framework of community power. Lewis shows us that mentorship is essential to effectively build from within.
To learn more about the Brotherhood RISE Center, visit risecenterofhilltop.org or follow them on Instagram @therisecenterofhilltop. For updates on Everyday Mentors, follow @everydaymentors on Instagram and sign up for their email list.