Conscious Reflections Empowerment Initiative #1317Promise

In 2015, the Conscious Heads Barbering Bootcamp with its partner Conscious Heads Barbershop and Natural Hair Salon embarked upon training students in the trade of barbering. This program has been an enormous success in the Baltimore community through providing vital workforce development opportunities for Baltimore City residents.

The Barbershop Bootcamp has trained students to understand the importance of economic empowerment by making money and providing community service to residents who may not afford haircuts.

Based on the post feedback we have received from community residents and the barbers in training, we are interested in expanding to a new shop in Northwest Baltimore, creating more significant workforce development opportunities.

To actualize our strategic vision for expansion, we have entered into a partnership with Reflections Eternal Barbershop, another well-known establishment which an excellent community reputation in Charles Village.

The owners of Reflection Eternal Barbershop are two men, both Master Barbers formally employed and trained at Conscious Heads Barbershop. The proposed new location would be at 5116 Liberty Heights Ave. This proposed venture would be called the Conscious Reflection Barbershop and Natural Hair Salon.

This partnership is based on a long history of community service, training future barbers, and political advocacy. Conscious Heads and Reflections Eternal and other Baltimore-based barbers were instrumental in challenging the barber apprenticeship laws in the State of Maryland. After two years of our continuous efforts, House Bill 1317 (previously House Bill 1021 and 1041) became effective as of October 1, 2021. This allows three apprentice barbers per Master Barber instead of one as the State Board of Barbers previously required. This Bill promotes more professionalism in the barbering field as this will encourage more practicing barbers to become licensed barbers, thus leading to more employment opportunities. With the expansion of this barbering training program, we must expand our space to accommodate a growing number of students.

The passing of House Bill 1317 is a tremendous victory for shop owners and barbers statewide. As we move forward, we seek people such as yourself to support us in educating and training people in skills that have been the bedrock of our communities.