• Blog
  • Careers
  • Contact Us

UCANUCAN logo

  • About Us
    • Who We Are
      • Our History
      • Our Leadership
      • Our Boards
      • Our Funders
    • What We Do
      • Youth Development
      • Advocacy
      • Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
      • Workforce Development
    • Our Impact
      • Personal Stories
      • Annual Reports
      • 2020 Annual Report Website
    • Contact Us
      • Document Library
  • Get Involved
    • Donate
    • Volunteer
    • Careers
    • Other Ways to Give
  • Our Programs
    • Preventing Violence
    • Healing Trauma
    • Building Strong Families
    • Educating & Empowering Youth
  • News & Events
    • In the News
    • Signature Events
    • Blog
Make a Donation
mobile search mobile menu
close

Home » Personal Stories » Primary Clients » Wahl Fades It Forward

Wahl Fades It Forward

September 28, 2018 Posted by UCANfuzzymath

“It’s not just about cutting hair; that’s only one aspect of being a barber,” explains Garland “G-Whiz” Fox of the Education & Artistic Team at Wahl Professional. The Illinois-based company, famous for its grooming products, partnered with UCAN and His & Hers Barber School to create the Wahl “Fade It Forward” Mentorship
Program.

Selected youth from UCAN’s Workforce Development program participated in the four-week mentorship curriculum that immerses participants into the basics of barbering. Each participant was partnered with a seasoned mentor from Raze Up Grooming Lounge, Nyra’s Hair Design Salon and Pro Image Cutz Ltd. in Chicago. 

“It’s paying it forward,” says mentor Brenda Potts. “That’s what it is to me, to pass it along. To help (youth) get the foundation they need before they even get (to barber school). It’s a privilege.”

G-Whiz explains the importance of a mentor: “It’s the mentor’s job to build (the youth) back up and instill within them values, morals, virtues, work ethic and professionalism. We want them to be the next product owners, the product developers, engineers. We want them to go to heights that they never thought they could go to from cutting hair.”

Mikalya Harper, Andre Whittington, Quientin Crump and Sebastian Moore received full scholarships to His & Hers Barber School in Chicago. But the program meant so much more than a scholarship.

“The Fade it Forward Program gave me my second chance, basically,” says Harper. “My senior year I got pregnant with twins and I wasn’t able to complete my hours in my barbering program. It broke my heart because I really wanted to become a barber.”

For Sebastian Moore, it meant a fully formed future. “It helped someone like me transition from unemployment to my own career path,” he says.

He also learned that being a barber went beyond cutting hair. “A barber can lift someone’s self-esteem. They can make someone feel better about themselves. They are a therapist, they are a pillar in the community,” says Moore. “To see other barbers become owners and operators after going through this same system that I’m about to go through, it’s extremely motivating.”

  • About Us
    • Who We Are
    • What We Do
    • Our Impact
    • Campaign
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact Us
  • Our Programs
    • Preventing Violence
    • Healing Trauma
    • Building Strong Families
    • Educating & Empowering Youth
  • Get Involved
    • Donate
    • Volunteer
    • Careers
  • News & Events
    • Blog
    • Signature Events
    • In the News

Join Our Community

Stay up to date and learn how you can be part of UCAN’s success

Facebook Twitter YouTube
  • Copyright 2017, UCAN
  • 3605 W. Fillmore, Chicago, IL 60624
  • Phone: 773-588-0180
  • Fax: 773-826-3620
  • Email: info@ucanchicago.org
  • About Us
    • Who We Are
      • Our History
      • Our Leadership
      • Our Boards
      • Our Funders
    • What We Do
      • Youth Development
      • Advocacy
      • Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
      • Workforce Development
    • Our Impact
      • Personal Stories
      • Annual Reports
      • 2020 Annual Report Website
    • Contact Us
      • Document Library
  • Get Involved
    • Donate
    • Volunteer
    • Careers
    • Other Ways to Give
  • Our Programs
    • Preventing Violence
    • Healing Trauma
    • Building Strong Families
    • Educating & Empowering Youth
  • News & Events
    • In the News
    • Signature Events
    • Blog
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Donate Now