Our stylists are skilled, attentive, and devoted to meeting our clients’ desires – that much is clear from the beautiful transformations they perform every day. What most people don’t see, however, is exactly how dedicated our team is to going above and beyond for our clients and our community as a whole. In April, Girls Inc. – a non-profit organization that focuses on mentoring young women to grow up healthy, educated, and independent – reached out to the salon and invited a few stylists to give a presentation and host an art activity for local girls. Our stylist Victoria’s experiences and passion for working with youth led her to continue on with the partnership, and she has been involved with Girls Inc. ever since.
Partnering with Girls Inc. was a natural fit and a no-brainer for Victoria. She had previously worked with kids in several different settings for about eight years, her favorite experiences being a summer camp and an after-school program for middle schoolers. Her vibrant, loving personality and confidence make her a shining role model for young women who are looking for their own path in life. Because of Girls Inc., Victoria is able to go after two things she loves. “I believe you can have more than one passion in life,” she commented on her knack for working with youth and styling hair. “It was just my jam!”
Victoria’s most recent event with Girls Inc. was speed mentoring at the Goodman Community Center. She devoted ten minutes to speak with high school students about how she got into her career and was blown away by the positive experience. “I had so much fun!” she gushed. “I was so impressed with the way the young women interacted with me. They spoke eloquently and the questions they asked were well thought out. I really feel like Girls Inc. is making a huge impact on these young women.” Victoria is currently planning an event in which eight to ten young women will join her at the salon and watch her perform our DevaCurl transformation. “While they’re here, I hope to give them the tools to care for their hair, build their confidence, and provide the full salon experience” she explained.
Beyond having fun and exploring her passions, Victoria feels strongly about why she’s involved with Girls Inc. and supports their mission in helping young women navigate social barriers and struggles. “I hope that by giving the girls what they need to care for their hair, they will develop a healthy sense of confidence and learn to love and embrace their curls,” she stated. Victoria believes adolescence is a vital part of young girls lives where they are finding their identity and discovering where they want to go in life. “If they aren’t self-conscious, they can focus more on character development. Curly hair is just a way of life; it’s supposed to be embraced. We’re all beautiful!” In addition to building their self-esteem, Victoria’s partnership with the organization will give the girls exposure to a career that doesn’t require a four-year degree but offers a bright future. Victoria likes to emphasize that the field isn’t superficial, as many people often think it is. There’s a lot more to it! She loves being able to build relationships with her clients, be creative, and use science, geometry, art, and knowledge from a wide variety of fields. “I want to show others – especially these young girls – that we are so much more” remarked Victoria.
As far as the future, Victoria is looking forward to continuing her relationship with Girls Inc. and serving her community in any way she can. Working with the girls reminded her how much this type of service is needed in the world we live in. “A small act can have a big impact. I want my coworkers and peers to experience that at my next event” she stated. At the end of the day, Victoria’s kind-heartedness is really just doing what she feels is right. “I am just being me and enjoying myself. Our youth are often overlooked, and I want to invest my time in our community to prevent this.”
Be Inspired Salon is so fortunate to have Victoria as a part of our team, and we can’t wait to see all the places she’ll go serving our community!
