Chicago, IL. (July 20, 2018) – As part of a joint initiative, Wahl Clipper Corporation, Chicago social service organization UCAN and local business His & Hers Barber School joined forces to help at-risk West Side youth break the cycle of poverty. Four students were awarded full scholarships valued at $6,100 each to attend classes toward becoming a professional barber.
The students completed their first week of their 13-month training program at His & Hers Barber School, 5355 West Madison in Chicago. There were awarded the scholarships after successfully completing the four-week Wahl Fade It Forward mentorship program with professional barbers in the community. This is the first year of the mentorship program and the scholarship awards. The company hopes to expand the program in the future.
As the world’s leading manufacturer of clippers for stylists and barbers, Sterling, IL-based Wahl Clipper Corporation was inspired in part by celebrity barber Garland “G-Whiz” Fox to create a grassroots program to aid youth in need and to celebrate the company’s 100-year anniversary in 2019. Joliet, IL native, Garland “G-Whiz” Fox is a Wahl Education & Artistic Team Member. Once homeless, Fox credits becoming a barber as the turning point in improving his life.
“The Wahl Fade It Forward program was created when I and a few other people began thinking about what we could do to give back to the community as a clipper company for all the years that we’ve been in business,” says Fox. “With me being a product of the community, we thought, why not go to the ‘hood,where everything is happening, and find some at-risk youth that no one is willing to give a chance and just take them and give them an opportunity to do things that they never thought they could do.”
For 23 year old West Side, Chicago student Sebastian Moore graduating school and becoming a licensed, professional barber is the first step toward becoming a business owner in the community in which he grew up.
“A year from now I see myself traveling, building my clientele before I open up and actual physical flagship location. Probably on the south side of the city or the east side of the city, Says Moore. “To see other barbers turn into owners/operators after graduating through the same system that I’m about to go through is extremely motivating. It’s like, ‘I can do this.”
The students hope to graduate August 2019.
