Career Exploration
Youth explore pathways in natural hair, braiding, cosmetology, nail technology, makeup artistry, barbering, salon ownership, content creation, and entrepreneurship.
Virginia Workforce Development
Workforce Development Programs for Youth
Give youth a practical way to explore careers, build workplace readiness, and grow confidence through hands-on beauty, business, and leadership experiences.
Plan a Program for Your Youth
A Pathway That Feels Real
Start with an interest. Build skills for what comes next.
Youth are more likely to lean in when learning connects to something they can create, practice, and picture themselves doing. Youth Braid and Business Academy uses the beauty industry as an engaging entry point to career exploration, workplace readiness, entrepreneurship, leadership, and personal development.
What Youth Practice
Skills that travel with them.
Workplace Readiness
Communication, customer service, professionalism, teamwork, punctuality, time management, organization, sanitation, safety, and problem-solving become part of the experience.
Entrepreneurship
Youth practice pricing, budgeting, branding, marketing, consultations, scheduling, service menus, and basic business planning through real-world scenarios.
Leadership & Confidence
Goal setting, responsibility, self-advocacy, decision-making, and perseverance help youth recognize the value they bring to a team and their future.
Learning by Doing
Practice makes the connection.
A guided hands-on activity can do more than teach a technical skill. It gives youth opportunities to listen, communicate, manage time, solve problems, support peers, and see how everyday effort connects to future work.
Explore Youth Braid Clinics →
Built Around Your Goals
A flexible workforce development partner.
For schools
Bring an engaging career-connected experience to youth during the school day, after school, or in school-break programming.
For workforce partners
Support career awareness, workplace readiness, work-based learning, and practical skill building with an experience youth can see themselves in.
For community organizations
Create structured opportunities for youth to build confidence, connect with caring adults, and explore pathways toward employment, training, entrepreneurship, and life goals.
Experience Across Systems
Ready to work alongside your team.
- Virginia DARS: Approved provider for group Pre-Employment Transition Services.
- NextUp RVA: Positive Youth Development funding experience.
- Richmond Public Schools: Programming supported through 21st Century funding.
- Tidewater Community College: Classes delivered through workforce programming.
Questions, Answered
Planning a workforce development program.
Who are these workforce development programs for?
Youth Braid and Business Academy partners with schools, workforce programs, youth-serving organizations, and community groups that want youth to build career awareness and practical workplace skills through engaging, hands-on learning.
What skills do youth practice?
Youth practice communication, customer service, teamwork, time management, professionalism, goal setting, problem-solving, leadership, and responsibility alongside hands-on beauty and entrepreneurship activities.
Can a program fit our schedule and goals?
Yes. Programs can be planned around the youth you serve, your setting, timeframe, and goals, including career exploration, workplace readiness, work-based learning, entrepreneurship, and positive youth development.
Do youth need prior beauty or business experience?
No. The Academy meets youth at the beginning of their learning journey and uses guided, age-appropriate activities to help them build confidence as they practice new skills.
Ready to bring a career-connected experience to your youth?
Tell us about your students, setting, and goals. We will help you identify a meaningful next step.
Partner With Youth Braid and Business Academy