In 2021 when Gregory Rutledge was released from prison, he decided to open the Atlanta Barber Institute to help ensure that others do not follow his criminal path.
Today, his institute has educated hundreds of students, however, it is in danger of closing because of financial issues.
“I’ve been basically running the school by myself since its inception,” Rutledge said to 11 Alive. “I haven’t received any financial aid. All my students pay out of pocket.”
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With his desire to ensure that students who walk into his barber college get fruitful careers as barbers, he doesn’t turn away anyone who can’t pay.
Mitchell McLeod said he had no money to pay for the college but was still allowed in.
“I really didn’t have any money to pay for barber college. I was already paying a little out of pocket for school. He basically told me, ‘Hey, we’ll take a little off the tuition,'” Mitchell said.
Some of the students have also received equipment from Rutledge to build their careers.
“He bought me my first box. It had clippers in there. It had neck strips, pesticides, a cape and guards. It had everything to get you started off,” said Charles Lanier, who has been a licensed barber for years.
Due to the help he has given to his students over the years, Rutledge is at risk of losing the space his college is in as he has fallen behind in paying his lease, owing $27,000.
He has applied for a grant to cater to that and hopes he receives it soon but for now, he is pleading for financial help to keep the school open.
“I definitely know how to manage its just about getting the resources I need to get further down the road,” Rutledge said.
A Licensed Master Educator, Licensed Master Barber, (SMP) Scalp Micropigmentation, MicroBlading, and NanoBlading Specialist, Rutledge said he is “helping those who want another option, including the 32.4% people of color (POC) who live in Atlanta, Georgia and surrounding areas.”
“Trades and working with your hands are still, even in 2021, portrayed as a less than desirable career path. When high schools prepare their ‘school report cards’ they include college acceptance statistics, but often skilled apprenticeships and trade programs are excluded. I have facilitated educational instruction at both public & private institutions. My milestone achievement was implementing the barber curriculum at Gwinnett Technical College and private institutions,” he states on his website.
He said he is represented throughout the industry by all of the licensed professionals he has educated. “They range from school owner, barber/beauty supply store owner and numerous other industry services,” he noted.
