Shear Success: A New Barber & Cosmetology Training Center Boosts Houston's Community Outreach
Houston is set to welcome a new addition to its suite of community-oriented educational programs, with the upcoming launch of the Shear Success Barber & Cosmetology Training Center, a venture led by hairstyle enthusiast and community service champion, Barbara Goodson.
Barbara Goodson, a Houston native, is no newcomer to community service or hairstyling. Founding the non-profit Have Shears Will Travel in her 60's, post-retirement from the oil and gas industry, Goodson set out to help those unable to access hair care services due to physical limitations, transportation shortage, or financial constraints. This commitment later earned her a Certificate with Distinction in Nonprofit Leadership from Rice University in 2019.
Barbara Goodson, founder and executive director of Have Shears Will Travel. (Source: HSWT)Have Shears Will Travel began as a one-woman operation with Goodson implementing her hairstyling skills in the community. Currently, the organization boasts a team of seven staff, dedicated volunteers, and an RV mobile salon. They provide over 700 free haircuts monthly, serving multiple nonprofit agencies, hospitals, homeless shelters, and homebound seniors across Greater Houston, partnering with many other nonprofits like West Houston Assistance Ministries and Mission of Yahweh. The organization has served over 36,000 people since its inception in 2015, living up to the motto of "Enhancing the Dignity of Every Client."
The Shear Success Barber & Cosmetology Training Center, scheduled to open in East Downtown Houston in Spring 2024, is the next phase of Goodson's vision. This venture was recently fortified by a generous $100,000 grant from the West U Rotary Club to assist in completing and furnishing the center. The West U Rotary Club, a supporter of Have Shears Will Travel since 2016, continues to back its mission through such grants and by serving on its board.
Barbara Goodson, center, receives a generous grant from West U Rotary Club for the upcoming Shear Success aims to provide lower-than-market tuition rates and scholarships to those less financially capable, allowing low-income men and women the opportunity to gain financial independence through acquiring a livable wage. Being strategically located a block away from public transportation and offering various adaptable payment options, the center makes barber and cosmetology training more accessible to all.
With the launch of the Shear Success Barber & Cosmetology Training Center, Barbara Goodson and team are set to expand their impact on the Houston community, cutting a path for those striving for economic independence via a career in barbering and cosmetology. To learn more about Have Shears Will Travel or the Shear Success Barber & Cosmetology Training Center, visit haveshearswilltravel.org.
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Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.
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