What Is Cutting Crew?

Cutting Crew pairs Avalon’s Cosmetology students with adolescents served by the U-Turn Foundation, giving students real-world practice while giving clients a fresh, free haircut.

As Marnee, Avalon’s Career Services Coordinator, explains, Cutting Crew “gives our Cosmetology students the opportunity to give back to our local community while gaining valuable hands-on experience. Under the supervision of licensed instructors, active Cosmetology students provide free haircuts while getting additional practice with shorter hairstyles, clipper cuts, and working with real clients.”

A Partnership Rooted in Purpose

The U-Turn Foundation is an Arizona-based nonprofit founded in 2003 with a mission to help young people overcome trauma, substance abuse, and mental health challenges. Through residential care, transitional housing, and outpatient therapy, the organization works to give young adults the skills and support they need to build stable, healthy futures.

Cutting Crew gives Avalon students a firsthand look at how their craft can play a small but meaningful role in that larger mission — showing up consistently, building trust, and treating every client with care.

Behind the Chair: An Instructor’s View

Derek Brothers, the education manager at Avalon Institute’s Mesa campus, serves as the lead instructor for Cutting Crew, guiding students through every appointment. As he describes it, his role is straightforward but essential: “My role in Cutting Crew is serving as the lead instructor overseeing and helping students complete their haircuts.”

But what students take away from the experience, Derek says, goes far beyond technique. “Students who volunteer their time and talents to provide free haircuts gain much more than hands-on experience. By serving members of their community, they build confidence in their skills, develop meaningful connections with others, and experience the satisfaction of making a positive impact. These acts of service foster a strong sense of purpose, compassion, and professionalism while helping students recognize the difference they can make in the lives of those around them.”

More Than a Haircut: Building Real Relationships

Ask anyone involved with Cutting Crew, and they’ll tell you the same thing: the impact goes well beyond a fresh trim. Derek has watched the program grow into something built on genuine connection over time.

“The impact of our students’ volunteer efforts extends far beyond providing free haircuts. Over time, they have built genuine friendships and meaningful connections with the young men we serve. What began as a service opportunity has grown into a relationship built on trust, respect, and consistency. Each month, clients look forward to their visits and are excited to see familiar faces. Many even ask for specific students by name, a testament to the strong bonds that have been formed.”

Marnee sees the same thing from her vantage point, and says it’s one of the most rewarding parts of the program. “The confidence our students gain is always amazing to see! They get to practice skills they may not use as often on the clinic floor while also doing something meaningful for someone else,” she says.

“It’s also rewarding to see the clients check out their fresh haircut when they’re finished. A haircut may seem like a small thing, but seeing someone walk away feeling good about themselves is a great reminder that a career in cosmetology is about so much more than just hair.”

In Their Own Words: Students Reflect on Cutting Crew

For the students behind the chair, Cutting Crew is where classroom skills meet real purpose. Kylie, a Cosmetology student, says the program has pushed her to grow in ways her regular floor time hasn’t. “I enjoy participating in Cutting Crew because I get to help the boys feel more confident about their hair and give them tips on how to style it.”

“Being a part of Cutting Crew helped me feel more comfortable using my clippers because there’s not many men’s cut appointments on the floor. I build my skills more and more each time because it’s always something new to learn.”

For fellow student Chelsey, the experience connects directly to why she chose cosmetology as a career in the first place. “I enjoy being part of Cutting Crew because it gives me the opportunity to use my passion for cosmetology to make a positive difference in the lives of foster children,” she says.

“Being able to give them a haircut and help them feel confident, cared for, and special is incredibly meaningful to me. I love that something as simple as a haircut can help someone feel seen and valued. It reminds me why I chose this career and how rewarding it can be to use my skills to give back to my community.”

A Small Act with a Lasting Impact

What makes Cutting Crew special isn’t just the haircuts. Students walk away with sharper clipper skills and more confidence behind the chair. Clients walk away with a fresh cut and the experience of being seen, remembered, and cared for by someone who shows up for them month after month. And as Derek puts it, these ongoing relationships are “fostering friendships that continue to inspire, uplift, and enrich everyone involved.”

For Avalon Institute’s Mesa campus, Cutting Crew is a reminder of why hands-on training matters: not just to build technical skill, but to build the kind of professionals who understand that a career in cosmetology is, at its heart, about people.

Interested in learning more about the U-Turn Foundation’s mission and programs? Visit theuturnfoundation.org to find out how they support young people in the Phoenix/Mesa area.