Mending Arrows Reshapes Minds

Adrian Burney to teach skills to a new generation of barbers and entrepreneurs
By Tabitha Ervin

Adrian Burney has been a licensed barber and an instructor throughout the last 20 years of his life. He also has his Bachelor’s Degree in Pastoral Ministries. Born and raised in Fort Wayne, Burney initially started as a barber because he could be creative and it was fun for him. His passion for barbering over the years has grown into a life-long journey of nontraditional ministry and mentoring to many young people in Fort Wayne and Indianapolis.

As a result of his journey, Burney wants to support the next generation and anyone who is interested in learning not only the skills of barbering, but entrepreneurship, as both can can influence and support the community. Out of this vision, Mended Arrows Academy of Barbering is being born.
The mission statement of Mended Arrows is to provide barbering education to people who are at risk so that they may become self-sufficient and role models.

As Burney and I discussed, his primary programming will be focused on making sure that anyone in the community regardless of background or education level who is interested in barbering can learn but also receive their license. To become a licensed barber, a person must pasa a state exam and in order to apply to take the exam, one must have a GED or diploma.

As a part of one of the Academy’s programs, Adrian plans to partner with the local agency, Literacy Alliance, as well as the local school districts to make sure this is not a barrier for any person who wants to obtain their license.

These types of partnerships will ensure that a person can get their diploma or GED in conjunction with being able to apply for the exam. In Burney’s experiences, he realizes that this is a barrier for some of the young people who apply for their license.

Additionally, Burney wants to be able to work with our local schools so that young people can work through his academy starting in their Junior year of high school and once they graduate, they can take the exam and pass it to immediately become a licensed barber. This will also be a great program for men or women returning home from incarceration or any other circumstances that previously permitted a person from receiving a diploma or GED.

Right now is the time, with all that is going on, to bring this vision to a reality and this program can help bridge the gap! Mended Arrows will be more than a barber school. Burney says his next steps are to raise $200,000 to purchase a building and the equipment needed for classrooms.
For more information, please check out mendedarrowsfw.org or email Adrian Burney directly at mended.arrows@yahoo.com