DURHAM, N.C. — Everybody knows the barber shop is the place to talk. However, at the Park West barber shop and salon in Durham, you'll get some gossip, but you'll also hear about philanthropy.

"We all are philanthropists. We may not have termed it philanthropy, but we all give back to the community," said barber shop owner Tim McIntosh.

McIntosh is part of an old tradition that's new again called a giving circle. His 22-member group calls itself NGAAP or

Next Generation of African American Philanthropists

.

"Our vision for our giving circle is positive, social economic development through philanthrophy within the African-American community," he said.

Members of the group contribute a minimum of $250 a year. They meet twice a month to investigate local charities and decide which ones to make a collective contribution to. NGAAP also works to get small matching grants. So far, it's given away $11,500 to seven charities.

One of the charities is Durham Proud, an intervention program for at-risk young people.

"Without funding, we can't serve the kids. Our program is free to the participants so Tim's group is very valuable to us," said Quillie Coath, of Durham Proud. "The more funding we receive, the more kids we can serve."

McIntosh said he has learned so much about the community's needs that he's found yet another way to serve. He is building a barber school, slated to open in July in downtown Durham. He will reserve a few slots for people who served time in prison.

"These individuals are looking for a chance and I think, because of Tim allowing ex-offenders to take up slots in his school, allows them to re-enter back into society," said Courtney McCollum, of the Durham Economic & Employment Development.

"It's our duty as humans. We have obligations to one another to help each other out and to try to better someone else's life," McIntosh said.

You can send your nominations of ordinary people doing extraordinary things to

extraordinary@wral.com

.