The Beginning of a Barber Academy ​for Mt. Vernon, NY

​​In 2014, Charnay Phaire, the executive director of Westchester Barber Academy, implemented an after-school program for 7th- and 8th-grade students at the local Amani Public Charter School. The program was open to any student wanting to learn, no matter their academic performance. The program was a success.

Not only were students learning a trade skill, they were also becoming community-minded entrepreneurs with an extensive support system of peers and barber professionals. As the after-school barbering program expanded, we realized we had a chance to do something big, which led to the creation of Westchester Barber Academy.
Westchester Barber Academy operates in several capacities...
​
  • A service offering in-house and off-site barber services
  • An after-school program that provides students with an Introduction to Barbering course
  • A workshop for barbers preparing to get their New York State Master Barbering License
  • A consultation for entrepreneurs looking to open barbershops in Mt. Vernon and nearby local areas
  • A licensed barber school for students aged 17 and older looking for an alternative career path or career change (launch July 2019)
  • A non-for-profit foundation arm that leads various community outreach initiatives (i.e. recently won a grant to train barbershops in the local area on HIV Prevention)
We go beyond barbering...

Learning a trade skill is a great way to engage your mind and prepare for a career but we want to go beyond that. We don't just focus on teaching the technical skills involved in barbering but the soft skills that can take students from barbershop worker to barbershop owner, including:

  • Personal branding
  • Business operations
  • Financial budgeting and reporting
  • Networking
  • Community activism
This organization is phenomenal. Not only do they train barbers and hairstylist, but they are a blessing to the community. WBA came and provided haircuts to our school community and the level of care they gave was top notch. We are grateful for their partnership and their service to community.
5/5 Stars
The Westchester Barber Academy volunteered their service at P.S. 48’s Back-To-School Giveback & the barbers did a phenomenal job providing wonderful hair cuts for the students! Such an amazing experience for the families—they were so excited & grateful! Amazing job!
5/5 Stars
Westchester Baber Academy did such an amazing job at our community event very well spoken respectful and was good with youth love them and look forward to working with them again!!
5/5 Stars
Westchester Barber Academy brought life through cosmetology to our scholars! We hosted two self-care days at Intellectus Prep and WBA came through to give our scholars hair cuts and hairstyles to boost their ego and their confidence. A bit of pampering is always fit for self-care. Aligned in our missions to provide an experience for the youth and empower them through entrepreneurship, the WBA family brought inspiration to our scholars who are not so far in age. Seeing people who look like themselves mastering a lucrative trade was impactful. Several scholars have now been exposed to cosmetology in a different way. WBA will be a part of all of our self-care days from here on out! A huge thank you goes to Mr. Charnay Phaire the CEO and Founder of WBA. Thank you for all you do for our community!
5/5 Stars
The students came out to an Easter event in Mt. Vernon, NY, and provided FREE Haircuts for everyone. They are very professional and skilled barbers. They were so courtesy and knowledge about hair. Every client was more than satisfied with their Haircuts.
5/5 Stars
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Call us and kick-start your journey to independence!

Westchester Barber Academy

206 South Fulton Ave.
Mount Vernon, NY 10550
(914) 664-4960 
[email protected]
​© westchesterbarberacademy​. All rights reserved.
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