The class selected Visionary Youth as the recipient of a $5,000 grant. Visionary Youth was established as a nonprofit in 2019, yet their work in Lincoln has quickly made a significant difference in the lives of over 4,500 members of the community.
This organization aims to impact families and change lives by supporting youth to reach their full potential. They do this by providing community youth with free haircuts, mentoring, back-to-school supplies, personal hygiene items, coats and clothes, fun family events, toy giveaways and community investment.
Visionary Youth founder and Oasis Barbershops owner, Kwabenah (KB) Mensah, experienced poverty and its traumatic effects throughout his childhood and wanted to give back to youth currently facing the same circumstances. Together with a group of barbers trained as mentors, KB and Visionary Youth serve as local role models for disadvantaged youth.
To mentor more effectively, Visionary Youth is opening a physical location to serve youth. They plan to use the Strive to Thrive Lincoln grant toward making this facility a safe, welcoming place for youth to come outside of school hours.
Learn more about Visionary Youth at https://visionaryouth.org/