Barbers Have Launched Youth Training Program
Seattle barbers Jabari Hayes and Jameel Shabazz now host weekly training sessions at the Garfield Community Center.
Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in Secondary Education
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The Fades of the Future initiative provides local youth with hands-on barbering instruction and professional mentorship. Founders Jabari Hayes and Jameel Shabazz established the program in 2025 to foster financial independence through skill development.
Why it matters
The program aims to offer Seattle youth a foundation for career success while honoring the mentors' commitment to give back to their community. By teaching professional habits alongside technical styling skills, the founders hope to build a path toward long-term stability for participants.
The Fades of the Future initiative operates weekly at the Garfield Community Center to build technical skills in cutting, fading, and styling. The founders are currently raising capital to renovate a historic Central District site into an accredited school.
The players
Jabari Hayes
He is the owner of Mo'Stylez Barbershop and Salon and a co-owner of Legacy Beauty Supply.
Jameel Shabazz
He is the founder of J Styles Barbershop and the nonprofit Project Impact.
De Charlene Dozier
She is the former owner of the historic Central District building selected for the future school.
The details
Mentors lead sessions where students receive instruction in lining up and styling hair while discussing essential professional habits. One former student who completed the program now works at J Styles Barbershop and assists the founders in teaching new participants.
Timeline
The Fades of the Future initiative began operations in 2025.
Training sessions occur every Tuesday.
Classes are held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Culture Shift
This program reflects the broader trend of community-led vocational mentorship models aimed at addressing economic disparities in urban environments. It shifts the educational focus from traditional classroom settings to hands-on, industry-integrated learning.
Residents can observe the development of the new barbering school site in the Central District as the founders continue their renovation efforts. Local youth interested in the trade can access free professional training and mentorship opportunities at the Garfield Community Center.
The takeaway
The Fades of the Future program demonstrates how private industry expertise can be effectively leveraged to create career pathways for young people. Aspiring students can benefit by seeking out community-based mentorship programs that combine technical training with professional soft skills.
Further reading
Learn more about local learning initiatives in the Secondary Education section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Seattle Medium.
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