Some Americans have been choosing to skip or delay college due to student loan concerns, uncertain job prospects or preferred interest in hands-on work that can pay well or serve as a path to entrepreneurship. A portion of the future workforce may be interested in skilled trades such as carpentry, electrician work, plumbing or even barbering.
The Apprenticeship 2030 Commission’s report makes recommendations to reduce skill shortages in high-demand occupations and provides affordable training for career pathways for young Marylanders by “expanding registered apprenticeships in industry sectors with skill shortages; growing the number of registered apprenticeships to at least 60,000 by 2030; and reaching the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future goal for 45% of high school graduates completing the high school level of a registered apprenticeship.”
Jaiden Martin—an eleventh grade Odenton, Maryland resident, has already made a decision about his future career path.
Photo credit: Marquis Kendrick
“I’ve been interested in barbering for three years now and I would like to continue my career as a barber after I graduate from high school,” Jaiden said.
Marquis Kendrick—a master barber and owner of Kendrick’s Barbershop, located in Odenton, Maryland teamed up with Robert Cradle, founder of Rob’s Barbershop Community Foundation, Inc., to provide a six-month internship program to help Anne Arundel County Public School students.
The men established another option for students who were not selected to attend the barber vocational program through the county.
“Those students will get real-time learning experience and the opportunity to learn the [barber] profession,” Kendrick said. “We began working with Anne Arundel County’s work-based learning/career and technical [program] to explore the problem of the waitlisted students for their Barber Program as far back as July of 2023.”
The internship program officially started February 1, 2024. Thus far, three students are participating.
Photo credit: Robert Cradle
“This initiative allows the student to earn the state requirement hours in order to be eligible to take the Maryland State Barber Exam. Once the student passes both theory and practical Maryland exams, the state will issue the student their barber license,” said Kendrick.
Kendrick noted that students should reach out to their school’s Internship Facilitator to inquire about the opportunity in the future.
Cradle’s role is to act as co-project manager with Kendrick. Shared duties include instructing students and organizing enrollee activities. Non-shared duties entail procuring supplies, grant/donor management, and publicity.
Cradle added, “Since I operate a public charity, I also play a role as fiscal agent for Kendrick’s Barbershop. This enables the barbershop to solicit charitable donations from individuals and entities seeking to support projects that provide workforce and vocational training for target populations.”
Jaiden feels that the internship has helped him to create structure and gain real world experience with a large variety of different people and personalities. He said that it has given him a greater perspective and understanding of people as a whole.
He added, “I love barbering so far and the internship has enhanced my knowledge about hair and unfamiliar tactics or strategies to make the day-to-day work much more effective. Mr. Marquis is my master barber who I am under and who has and continues to help me tremendously as well as Mr. Rob. The combination of the two has been a real game changer in my abilities and the quality of my work.”
The ambitious student works three days a week for three hours, Monday, Wednesday and Sunday.
“I hope to keep encouraging and uplifting people one cut at a time and to even stretch to reach those who may not have the means to get a haircut,” Jaiden said. “I personally am extremely grateful with the whole process of the internship.”
Zsavelle Smack, a Work Based Learning Facilitator who supports the students at two schools in Anne Arundel County, explained that Anne Arundel County Public Schools offers more than 50 Career and Technical Education completer programs ranging from Cybersecurity courses to Masonry, Graphic Design to Pharmacy Technician.
“These programs provide students with the foundation to enter the workforce and to pursue further education in college or trade school programs/apprenticeships, should they choose. Programs are offered at a variety of schools, including every comprehensive high school, and the Centers of Applied Technology North (CAT North) and (CAT) South,” said Smack.
A student’s ability to attend CAT North or CAT South is determined by which high school they regularly attend. AACPS students have had access to CTE programs going back into the 1950s. The Centers of Applied Technology were opened in the mid-1970s.
Additionally, Smack stated that there are consistently 30-plus students on the waitlist in any given year for the barbering program. AACPS is always looking to develop more partnerships, like what it has with Cradle.
“AACPS’ work-based learning teachers, who help identify internship and apprenticeship opportunities for students, love business partners like Mr. Cradle. His passion is evident and he is committed to finding opportunities for students in career fields that help them belong, grow, and succeed. The partnerships with both Kendrick’s Barbershop and Rob’s Barbershop Community create a positive internship/mentorship experience for our AACPS students. They provide opportunities and hope as well as expose students to careers and pathways they may never otherwise have thought about,” he said.
Rob’s Barbershop Community Foundation, Inc. has been selected as a finalist for the Anne Arundel County 2024 Changemaker Challenge. Up to five grants ranging from $10,000 to $25,000, plus an audience choice award of $5,000 will be awarded on April 30, 2024. The live pitch event for local social entrepreneurs will be held on Tuesday, April 30 at Anne Arundel County Community College from 6 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
“We are so excited to be chosen as a Changemaker Challenge Finalist for Anne Arundel County. The purpose of our pitch will be to secure funding to train the students not selected in the school system’s 2024-2025 Barbering Program lottery,” Cradle said.
Supporters can help AACPS students and growth of the internship project by accessing https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_p49_RfBqQOW_gP7v1BuCxQ#/registration to vote for Cradle and Kendrick to receive the $5,000 audience choice grant on April 30. Visit https://view.ceros.com/united-way-of-central-maryland/2024-changemaker-challenge-1/p/2 to learn more details.