SkillsUSA Students Give Back, Showcase Talents
Community Hair Speaks event offers free beauty services
On March 19 and 20 Cleveland Community College’s SkillsUSA members hosted Community Hair Speaks, a community service event that allowed students to give back while showcasing their Cosmetology skills. Glynnis Barner, Tierra Lira, and Shaiel Rivera organized the event to provide free beauty services to individuals in the community.
The event offered a variety of services, including shampooing, conditioning, hair cutting, hairstyling, manicures, pedicures, and facials. Over two days, 56 clients were served. The event took place in the Cosmetology Department on campus, where students created an inviting and professional atmosphere for all those in attendance.
Students’ Outreach Efforts
To ensure the event reached those who could benefit most, the students distributed flyers at local shelters, rescue missions, libraries, the Department of Social Services, and the Health Department. This outreach helped connect the event to individuals who might not typically have access to these services, providing them an opportunity to receive quality beauty treatments at no cost.
In addition to providing community service, Community Hair Speaks also offered a unique learning experience. Beginner Cosmetology students had the chance to work alongside advanced students, gaining hands-on experience while enhancing their technical skills. This collaboration fostered mentorship, teamwork, and a deeper understanding of the importance of community involvement.
More Than Just a Project
“The Community Hair Speaks event was a great way to give back,” said Tierra Lira. “It wasn’t just about providing services, it was about making people feel good and knowing that we were making a difference.”
What started as a SkillsUSA competition project soon became more than just a contest. The students realized the true value of giving back to the community and are now eager to continue these efforts in the future.
Community Hair Speaks was a perfect example of the SkillsUSA framework in action, which emphasizes Personal Skills, Workplace Skills, and Technical Skills Grounded in Academics. The event allowed students to develop and showcase the essential elements of this framework, which are the foundation for career readiness. The project demonstrated how SkillsUSA prepares students to excel in the workplace by fostering teamwork, leadership, and technical expertise, all while giving back to their community.
“I was deeply inspired as an educator to witness advanced students collaborating with beginners and sharing their knowledge with such passion,” said Angela Leinweber, Cosmetology instructor. “Both groups demonstrated remarkable compassion toward the clients they were serving. The students were energetic, engaged, and truly dedicated to making a difference. As an educator, it makes me incredibly happy to see them care so deeply about the education they’re receiving and to know they are making sure the next generation becomes the best they can be in the beauty industry.”
Through this event, the students are now preparing to present their work in project form at the 2025 SkillsUSA North Carolina State Conference on April 10. They will have the opportunity to showcase the Community Hair Speaks initiative to a panel of judges, highlighting their accomplishments and the skills they gained throughout the process.
The Community Hair Speaks event not only provided a valuable learning experience for the students but also highlighted their commitment to SkillsUSA’s core values. Cleveland Community College is proud of Glynnis, Tierra, and Shaiel for their initiative and looks forward to seeing how they will continue to use their skills to positively impact the community.
Learn more about the services our students offer at discounted prices on the Personal Care Services pages at clevelandcc.edu.
