ATLANTA — An Atlanta man went from prison to founding his own barber college -- with the hope of preventing others from going down the wrong path.
When Gregory Rutledge was released from prison in 2021, he was inspired to open the Atlanta Barber Institute to help others. He said the program has educated hundreds of students over the years.
But now, his dream is in danger of getting clipped due to financial hardship.
“I’ve been basically running the school by myself since its inception," Rutledge said. "I haven’t received any financial aid. All my students pay out of pocket."
Rutledge said he wants every student who comes through his doors to learn and go on to have successful careers as a barber. Because of this, he has never turned anyone away because they couldn't pay.
Mitchell McLeod is one of those students.
“I really didn’t have any money to pay for barber college. I was already paying a little out of pocket for school. He basically told me, 'Hey, we’ll take a little off the tuition,'" Mitchell said.
Rutledge said he's done this for countless students over the years, even using his own money for their equipment -- giving a leg up to students like Charles Lanier who has been a licensed barber for years.
“He bought me my first box. It had clippers in there. It had neck strips, pesticides, a cape and guards. It had everything to get you started off," Lanier said.
Because Rutledge has continued to put his students’ needs above balancing the books, he’s fallen behind in paying his lease at the Greenbriar Mall.
Right now, he owes $27,000 and is at risk of losing the space the school is in.
He’s hoping a grant he’s applied for will come through some time in November but needs help to pay the bills in the meantime.
“I definitely know how to manage its just about getting the resources I need to get further down the road," Rutledge said.
The Atlanta Black Chambers has organized a fundraiser to help out the school. To donate, click here.