New beauty program launched for women in St. Louis jail – transforming lives!
Magnificence Behind Bars: Empowering Incarcerated Ladies By means of Hair and Magnificence
For a lot of Black ladies, hair is an extension of who they’re. Tammy Townsend is not any exception. Each likelihood she will get she dyes her quick salt and pepper hair. The transformation brings out her interior confidence. That’s the sensation she desires to depart together with her shoppers when she does their hair.
Townsend is incarcerated on the St. Louis County Justice Middle. She’s certainly one of 4 ladies taking part within the jail’s new St. Louis County Jail Barber and Magnificence Store program. It’s the primary of its sort within the state to supply a magnificence and barber store coaching program for incarcerated ladies in county jail. Townsend stated this system was a possibility for her to study new expertise.
The aim is to cut back the recidivism charge by offering the ladies with expertise they’ll use as soon as they’re launched. The 9 week course is a condensed model of conventional cosmetology and barbering curriculum present in magnificence faculties throughout the nation. The primary half focuses on hair idea whereas the latter half is filled with hands-on expertise. Every participant receives their very own package stuffed with important hair instruments. The hair providers embrace a session, model choice, after which the ladies get to work.
Nichole Zeable, one of many program members, expressed how the expertise has lifted her spirits and offered a confidence enhance. Tyresha Jordan sees this as a possibility to pursue a barbering license upon her launch. Evon Edmonds-Childs plans to finish the required hours for a cosmetology license as soon as she’s out.
This system is co-lead by skilled professionals Rachel Pulliam and Clarice Booze. Pulliam emphasizes the significance of giving again and exhibiting the ladies a distinct path they’ll take as soon as they depart. Booze shares the sentiment and acknowledges the emotional connection that varieties on account of their ardour for the trade.
Creator of this system, Janel Lewis, goals to humanize incarcerated ladies and supply them with helpful expertise. This system has obtained vital help from jail and county officers, together with St. Louis County Government Sam Web page, who believes in providing a pathway to success for the people of their care.
Packages like these are important to cut back recidivism and supply alternatives for rehabilitation. Beth Huebner, a criminology professor, highlights the significance of studying new expertise and establishing connections throughout incarceration. Whereas challenges might exist in acquiring licenses on account of legal information, mentorship and connections established on this program can facilitate the method.
On the finish of Nichole Zeable’s appointment, she felt stunning. This program is a step in the proper route in the direction of empowerment and rehabilitation for incarcerated ladies by way of hair and wonder.
Written by: Eric Lee, St. Louis Public Radio
