The Cutting Edge Barber Mentorship Program, recently hosted at Personal Touch Barbershop in Renton, Washington, represented a unique fusion of trade education and community empowerment. Funded by King County’s Participatory Budgeting initiative, the program transformed the traditional barbershop into a hub for skill-building, mental health advocacy, and economic development for local youth.

Spearheaded by shop owner Eddie Edwards and master barber Lamont Styles of Life's Styles Barber Academy, the intensive six-week curriculum provided students with both hands-on technical training and classroom instruction on business principles. By leveraging public funding to provide professional tools and financial stipends, the program empowered participants to master their craft while navigating the complexities of entrepreneurship.

As the inaugural cohort graduates, the success of Cutting Edge serves as a model for community-led innovation. Beyond teaching technical skills, the initiative fosters deep personal connections and offers a blueprint for how grassroots democracy can reclaim community wealth, inspire the next generation, and transform local businesses into essential pillars of support.

Personal Touch Barbershop is open Mondays through Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 355 Rainier Ave N, Renton, WA. Learn more about the barbershop and the Cutting Edge Barber Mentorship Program at personaltouchbarbershop.com