Barber's Vocational School Established Within Chowchilla Penitentiary
In a groundbreaking move, Victor Fontanez, popularly known as "VicBlends" on TikTok, has opened the first licensed barber school inside Valley State Prison in Chowchilla, California. This pioneering initiative aims to train inmates in barbering skills, enabling them to leave prison with a state-issued barber license [1][2][3][5].
The school, named VicBlends Academy, is the first accredited barber academy within the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, marking a significant milestone in prison vocational training [2]. With a class size limited to 16 students at a time, the high demand for the program is evidenced by the waitlist that often exceeds a year [2].
Upon completion of their sentences, graduates of VicBlends Academy will receive a California state barber's license, greatly enhancing their chances of successful reintegration into society by providing them with practical trade skills and legal certification [1][2]. The academy offers over 100 haircuts weekly to incarcerated men, serving not only as a training ground but also as a valuable service within the prison [1].
The program goes beyond vocational training, focusing on rehabilitation and helping inmates transform their lives, address past mistakes, and reduce recidivism by preparing them for gainful employment outside [2]. VicBlends hopes that this initiative will inspire other prisons nationwide to establish similar vocational programs [1][3].
Classes at VicBlends Academy are taught by experienced instructors like Roberto Martínez, and the school is part of a broader array of vocational opportunities offered in the prison [2]. High-profile clients of VicBlends, such as former President Barack Obama and seven-time Super Bowl champ Tom Brady, are testament to his expertise in the field [4].
The launch of VicBlends Academy signifies a new approach to inmate rehabilitation through licensed vocational education, providing inmates with practical trade skills, legal certification, and a pathway to sustainable employment after incarceration, thereby helping to break the cycle of recidivism [1][2][3].
- VicBlends Academy, now the first licensed barber school inside a California prison, has expanded its curriculum to include fashion-and-beauty courses, allowing inmates to learn styling techniques and trends, thereby broadening their career prospects upon release.
- In addition to its home-and-garden spaces, VicBlends Academy also plans to establish a small salon within the prison, where student barbers can gain hands-on experience working on clients and showcase their skills, ultimately improving their chances of landing job opportunities in the fashion-and-beauty industry post-release.
