On Monday, December 16, 2024, older folks from Mount Vernon came to Mount Vernon High School to get makeovers from the cosmetology and barbering students.
With a festive theme, this was the second Senior Citizen Makeover Day. Seniors may now enjoy coffee and sweets in a whole new way as they celebrate the holidays.
As part of an expanding collaboration between the Mount Vernon Recreation Department and the Career and Technical Education Department, the senior group paid a visit to MVHS.
To kickstart the collaboration, seniors also came in for makeovers in May 2024, and in November 2024, veterans got haircuts and styling. Throughout the year, barbering students also come to schools to trim the hair of younger pupils.
“The CTE Department could not be more thrilled to expand our rich partnership with the MV City Recreation Department,” Director of CTE Brian Simmons stated. “These opportunities are pure gold for our students to build deep and meaningful relationships with the elders of our community while developing critical employment skills. It is a model that benefits everybody!”
The seniors were consulted by the students, some of whom would be pursuing careers in cosmetology and barbering, and the students began working after consulting with the seniors about their desired hair styles.
Students have the opportunity to gain experience for their future careers through this program, while also contributing to the betterment of their town and establishing relationships with more senior members of the community.
“I feel really great because I like helping out with the elderly. It reminds me of my grandma; I would want someone to help her, so that’s why I help other people,” Najylah Aaron-Barksdale, an 11th-grade MVHS student stated. “This reflects back on my teacher and shows how she’s teaching us well because we’re able to help others. I’ve learned a lot. I’ve learned how to sew hair, curl, straighten, braid and a lot of other things.”
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Cosmetology students groomed and colored hair, while barbering students trimmed hair.
To remember the event and view the students’ work, each person who received a haircut snapped a before and after picture.
“This is like anything else when you’re doing something in the community, it’s a beautification project: when you look good you feel good. It’s the holiday season, and it’s a time when we want to be looking our best,” Sean Paul Wade, director of social and community services for the City of Mount Vernon and the Department of Recreation stated. “This is not the first time we’ve done this, so they really actually enjoy coming out and helping the young people and working with the young people for the service. This is the bridge between intergenerational programming. I’ve always been a big proponent of the future and the foundation. The future is obviously the youth, but the foundation of any community is its senior citizens, and we have to build more bridges between them.”
The older residents will be ready and looking new for their holiday celebrations, as a party at the Doles Center draws near.