Under the watchful eye of Midas of Midas Cuts, Nathaniel Reid took the clippers in hand and began to give Ayden Williams a high-top fade.
Three days a week, Midas, whose barber shop is located at 1944 Walton Way, meets with several members of the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Augusta and teaches them the skills associated with his trade.
“They’ve been doing excellent for them to be so young and pick up on the craft so fast,” said Midas, who has watched them quickly pick up on things that took him much longer to learn.
Helping children build for their future has always been at the heart of programming at the Boys and Girls Clubs, and career exploration is one way to do that.
“Some might not go to college,” said Jessica Pope of the Boys and Girls Clubs. “We want to give them the opportunity to be hands-on and see if this is something they might actually want to take on in future endeavors.”
The barber program is one of several career exploration opportunities that have been offered at the organization’s teen annex on Milledge Road. They’ve also been able to check out cosmetology, podcasting and culinary arts.
Pope said they’d like to create a studio because some of the members are interested in music and audio engineering.
Trevor Bryant, a Westside High School freshman, is one of the students learning about barbering.
“I wanted to learn to cut my own hair,” said Bryant, who is considering becoming a barber after high school.
He said he’s learned a lot from Midas and called him a good teacher.
For the barbering program, the clientele are other Boys and Girls Club members whose parents have given their permission, but on days when there aren’t many signed up, Midas said they’ve given each other haircuts.
Midas, who moved to the area from Miami, said he likes to be involved with the community and has partnered with other groups to provide free haircuts at events. Whenever someone gets out of his chair, he tells them to “get out there and be somebody.”
“I want to help change youth and give them another option,” said Midas, who plans to open his own barber school.
Charmain Z. Brackett, the publisher of Augusta Good News and Inspiring: Women of Augusta, has covered Augusta’s news for 35 years. Reach her at charmain@augustagoodnews.com. Sign up for the newsletter here.
