UPLIFT
HISTORY AND MOTTO
Uplift Barber and Beauty is a partnership between Crown Cutz Academy founder Craig Charles and social entrepreneur Lorenzo Lewis, we believe being a successful barber is more than delivering a fresh cut. Our students graduate with not only the hard skills needed to attract opportunities, but the soft skills required for everyone in the barbershop to thrive.
Our motto, “Enter to Learn, Depart to Serve,” reflects our commitment to not only providing quality training, but also instilling a sense of community service in our students. We believe that our graduates should use their skills to uplift and serve their communities, while also pursuing their passions and achieving their professional goals.
Whether you’re a seasoned professional looking to enhance your skills or someone just starting out in the industry, Uplift Barber and Beauty is here to support you every step of the way. Join us and become a part of a community committed to excellence, service, and upliftment.
BIOS OF THE FACULTY MEMBERS
Craig Charles
Craig Charles has almost two decades of professional experience in the barber industry and is the owner of Crown Cutz Academy Johnson City, TN and Bristol, VA. Craig was raised in Boston, MA and graduated from East Tennessee State University with a degree in Mass Communication. His barber career started in 2004 when he opened his barbershop, Craig’s Crown Cutz. With this venture, Craig formulated a plan to open a barber school and his dreams became a reality when Crown Cutz Academy opened in 2017. His first location was in Johnson City and the second location was opened in Bristol a few years later.
Lorenzo Lewis
Social entrepreneur and speaker Lorenzo Lewis models his life around liberation. As the founder and former Chief Visionary Office of The Confess Project, a leading national grassroots movement that empowers barbers to become mental health advocates for men of color, Lorenzo understands that releasing trauma is the only way to move forward. Born in jail to an incarcerated mother, Lorenzo struggled with depression and anxiety throughout his youth. At 17, he almost re-entered the system of mass incarceration he had come from. It was then he snapped in and began his journey to wellness.
Lorenzo has given talks at numerous entities across the country—Snapchat, Google, ADCOLOR, Stanford University, and Texas Rangers, to name a few. Feature in over 100+ media outlets. He is also a two-time TEDx speaker and Ashoka Fellow.
ABOUT THE COURSES
Uplift Barber and Beauty Academy will provide barber and cosmetology programs. Along with the technical and practical aspects of learning in these areas, our students will also have mental health, domestic violence and financial literacy training. Uplift Barber and Beauty Academy will be the first of its kind to offer these additional resources in its curriculum.