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 Dear Future Professionals and Industry Friends,
There are two forces that rule this planet: fear and love. I often wonder how many people watch the ten o’clock news and then go to bed filled with fear about what they’ve seen. The news provides detailed facts about crime, violence, the economy, the environment, and people who are different, but it never tells how many people fell in love that day or volunteered their time. You might think, I have to watch the news to be informed, but you can be informed without letting it depress, distract, or drag you into its negative, sensationalized spin. Become informed for one purpose: to be part of the solution. The last thing we need is more fear!
At Paul Mitchell Schools, we think the best remedies for fear are knowledge, education, empathy, and of course, love. Our culture is about bringing out the best in people and situations, changing lives, making a difference, healing the planet, and healing ourselves. Yes, we have a dress code, attendance requirements, educational standards, and all the other elements of a successful organization, but we also provide safe, loving environments where people have overcome addictions, built self-esteem, left bad relationships, found mentors, and discovered a support system similar to the best family you could ever imagine.
Our vision is happy, successful Future Professionals and graduates. It would be wonderful if they came to us unbroken. Unfortunately, I once heard a famous psychologist say that 95% of us were raised with some type of dysfunction.
This special newsletter addresses some serious issues that our students sometimes struggle with, such as eating disorders, domestic violence, depression and suicide, and gender and sexual identity. Instead of our usual Future Professional and Alumni Profiles, you’ll find brief overviews of each type of issue and a few words from a Future Professional or graduate who has dealt with it personally. I want to recognize and thank each of them for generously sharing their stories and messages so we all can learn and grow.
The more we become aware of each other’s stories, circumstances, and challenges, the better we will be at spreading hope. Let’s walk away from ignorance, educate ourselves, embrace people who are different from us, and send out a message of hope. We’re not saying that this is the end-all solution; it is simply our intent to bring love, empathy, hope, and awareness to our network and our industry. At the end of the day, the one thing that can undo fear is love.
— Winn Claybaugh
Dean and Cofounder of Paul Mitchell Schools
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Jeri Linas
 Jeri Linas is an advisory board member for the Salons Against Domestic Abuse Fund’s CUT IT OUT education and awareness campaign for salon professionals. Founded by the National Cosmetology Association (NCA) in partnership with Southern Living at Home, the award-winning CUT IT OUT program was designed to leverage the professional beauty industry’s deep relationship with its clients to enhance public awareness of the issues surrounding domestic abuse and to safely provide information on community resources to assist those in need.
Prior to joining NCA, Jeri served as founding member, assistant director, and then executive director of Rainbow House/Arco Iris, a comprehensive social service and shelter agency serving battered women and their families in Chicago since 1982. She then worked for 10 years as the assistant director of the Chicago Mayor’s Office on Domestic Violence (MODV), where she was responsible for assisting with developing, implementing, managing, and directing many MODV projects and policies as well as coordinating the office’s efforts with other city departments, community-based organizations, and the general public.
An immigrant from Belfast, Northern Ireland, Jeri is an educator by training and has taught in England, Ireland, and the United States. She lives with her family in Chicago’s Beverly community. For more information aboutFor more information about CUT IT OUT, please visit www.cutitout.org.
 Click the “play” button to join Winn Claybaugh as he interviews Jeri Linas. You’ll learn profound facts and thoughtful advice on how everyone in the beauty industry is uniquely positioned to help make a difference toward eliminating domestic violence.
If you enjoyed this month’s audio message, you’ll love our MASTERS Audio Club. CLICK HERE for more information.
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Paul Mitchell Schools Hold Nationwide Free Hugs Day
 Inspired by the Sick Puppies YouTube music video about Juan Mann’s popular Free Hugs campaign, numerous Paul Mitchell Schools have held Free Hugs Days in locations throughout America. On October 14, 2009, the entire network joined together for its first nationwide Free Hugs Day.
Christian Gaytan, a Phase Two Learning Leader from Paul Mitchell The School – Chicago, came up with the idea for the nationwide event. Dressed in their signature black outfits, carrying handmade “Free Hugs” signs, and naturally sporting fabulous styles, Future Professionals from 100 schools headed for malls, parks, hospitals, plazas, gyms, senior centers, college campuses, and other crowded spots to offer hugs and make people’s day. Events for the 10,000 day and night school students occurred simultaneously in every time zone throughout the continental United States and Hawaii.
In Columbia, South Carolina, Future Professionals staked out the state capitol, saying, “Those politicians need love, too!” Not to be outdone, Future Professionals from the Temple in Frederick, Maryland, got their mayor to come out for free hugs. In San Antonio, an army of Future Professionals put the Alamo under siege, while students from Fresno took a little love to a nearby veteran’s hospital. And in Wichita, Kansas, Future Professionals gave free hugs to their colleagues at another cosmetology school.
 Paul Mitchell artists, educators, top executives, and superstars joined in at their nearest Free Hugs locations. In Austin, Texas, Paul Mitchell Chairman and CEO John Paul DeJoria was so inspired by the day school students that he returned that evening with his young son, John Anthony. “I think the whole world needs free hugs, and I am here to receive my share,” John Paul said.
Paul Mitchell Artistic Director Stephanie Kocielski joined the excitement in San Diego, and Paul Mitchell Schools Dean and Cofounder Winn Claybaugh and school owner George Morales were on the scene in Costa Mesa, California. “As members of the beauty industry, we’re in the business of helping people look beautiful,” Winn said. “More important, it’s part of our ‘be nice’ culture to help people feel beautiful. Our Free Hugs campaign is just one of the many ways our Future Professionals show their passion and compassion in their local communities.”
When 31-year-old Julie Westcott was diagnosed with cancer and started losing her waist-length hair because of chemo treatments, she immediately turned to her hairdresser to style her new wigs and shave her head. Although Julie rarely shares her story, she went home and blogged about it after coming across Free Hugs Day in San Diego and Temecula, California. “Today, I decided to share it with all of you because of the compassion of a young group of hairstylist students wanting to bring some smiles to our community,” Julie wrote. “Did I stop my car to say ‘hi’ today? Heck yes. I then proceeded to get bear hugs from an incredibly talented bunch of folks. Did it make me smile? Yup. Were they smiling? Yup. Thanks, Paul Mitchell Schools! Cures rock ... so do hugs, smiles, and great hair!”
Tara Dowdal, Director of Paul Mitchell The School – Orlando, said, “It was so impactful for a complete stranger to say, ‘I really needed that hug. Thanks for making my day.’ We can’t wait to go out again and change the world one person at a time!”
  
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The Andrew Gomez Dream Foundation
 For a brief moment in time, the beauty industry was touched by a very special young man. What made Andrew Gomez so special? It wasn’t his meteoric rise from beauty school graduate to international educator. It wasn’t his strikingly handsome physical appearance, his charming personality, his sense of humor, or his ability to be the life of the party, although he certainly had all of those traits. Andrew had a magical way of knowing who needed what at any specific time. He sensed when someone was a little down or needed a hug. He knew when someone was struggling or depressed. Sometimes people who are the life of the party don’t notice the sad, quiet person in the corner, but Andrew did. Maybe it was because he struggled with mental illness and depression himself; sadly, in February 2002, he ended the struggle by taking his own life.
As a beauty school student, Andrew was everybody’s favorite. In his honor, his family, former instructors, and friends formed the Andrew Gomez Dream Foundation, a nonprofit organization that continues his legacy of giving love, hope, and support to those who need it most. For over 20 years, Paul Mitchell students have passionately donated their time and energy to raise money and awareness for causes including cancer, AIDS, child abuse, the 9/11 tragedy, leukemia, battered women, homelessness, and more. Now it’s our turn to give back to our students and our fellow beauty industry professionals. Under the umbrella of the Andrew Gomez Dream Foundation, Paul Mitchell Future Professionals have raised nearly $3.4 million, benefiting a number of organizations. Funds have provided educational opportunities and financial assistance to students and new salon professionals, opportunities ranging from tuition and transportation to a haircutting class, a chance to assist at a major fashion show, or a weekend education retreat. The foundation also donates funds to cosmetologists and cosmetology-related enterprises that are disadvantaged or facing hardship. For example, funds have helped hairdressers affected by Hurricane Katrina and supported breast cancer causes after one of our colleagues was diagnosed with the disease.
Since its inception in 2003, the Andrew Gomez Dream Foundation has kept expenses to a minimum. While it’s not uncommon for nonprofit organizations to spend up to 35% of their revenues to manage their activities, our expenses for the past seven years have been an astonishingly low 1.5% (for essentials like tax returns, letterhead, and transportation for special guest artists to schools that raise the most money in our annual FUNraising campaign). Since the beginning, the entire board of directors has volunteered their time. Hundreds of thousands of volunteer hours, plus the ongoing accounting and legal expenses have all been donated, and not one cent has been spent on rent or telephone bills.
 We do not pretend to know or understand the journey of those we wish to support through the Andrew Gomez Dream Foundation, but we do intend to bring some love and hope to help them in their daily battles. Won’t you join us? Visit www.paulmitchelltheschool.com to find out how you can help.
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Just Say “Yes” to Connecting
By Winn Claybaugh
 Without a doubt, some Future Professionals and staff members were probably leery when they first heard about the Free Hugs campaign. “You want us to do WHAT? Go out and hug strangers? Are you kidding me?” Yet by the end of the day many were saying, “Today changed my life.”
The beauty industry is so much more than the four walls of your school or salon. Although you can find wonderful inspiration from your service guests, team members, and team leaders, you need to expand your vision beyond your daily experiences.
It’s important to avoid falling into the daily rut of getting up, going to work or school, serving guests, and going home. That’s a recipe for quickly getting bored. Whenever you feel uninspired, it’s time to start exploring again. Open your mind and say “yes” to getting connected. All you have to do is say “yes” to exploring the possibilities.
It’s easy to connect while you’re in school. Learning opportunities are everywhere. Push yourself to learn something every chance you get. Start by joining in extracurricular activities; they allow you to connect with people you may otherwise never have the opportunity to interact with. Join the Be Nice (Or Else!) Team, even if you don’t think of yourself as a nice person. Try out for the Design Team. Get involved with the Go Green Team. All of these activities are designed to help you learn, grow, experience, and lead. Be open to new ideas, even if they sound silly at first. Sometimes you might have to give yourself a little push to get past your fears or nervousness. Just say yes and give it a try. You never know whose life you may change … it may even be your own.
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How wonderful it would be if all people were healthy and unbroken. Unfortunately, many individuals struggle with issues like eating disorders, domestic violence, depression and suicide, and gender and sexual identity. Below you’ll read some amazing stories of how Paul Mitchell Schools and our Be Nice culture are helping to save and change lives.
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Substance Abuse
Substance abuse involves the repeated and excessive use of illegal or prescription drugs to achieve a certain effect. This vicious cycle causes changes in the brain, leading to stronger and stronger impulses to use. Without help, it destroys families and takes lives. |
Monique Due, Class of 2009
Paul Mitchell The School – Salt Lake City
 Trapped in a miserable marriage and isolated from family and friends in Alabama, Monique Due says her sister’s support was all that got her through most days. When her sister died of a drug overdose, Monique says, “It marked the end of my efforts to survive and the beginning of my efforts to join her. I lost my children because of my inability to control my drinking and drug abuse, then I decided I might as well be as far away from Alabama as possible.”
Addicts and alcoholics define a geographical cure as a move from one location to another in an attempt to get clean without making any necessary changes. Monique’s move to Utah was exactly that, along with a secondary desire to transfer to Paul Mitchell The School. “When I started at Paul Mitchell, I was completely lost in my IV heroin and cocaine addiction,” Monique recalls. “Trying to balance school while keeping my secrets, obtaining money and drugs, and making sure I didn’t get sick or caught was exhausting, to say the least. Then began the absences.”
One day, Monique left a message for the school’s Financial Aid Leader. “I was so ready for him to pull my financial aid money or throw me out of school,” she says. “Instead, he expressed concern and explained how I could take a leave of absence.” When Monique returned to school, she hid in her car instead of going in. The Admissions Leader caught her and told her to come to his office the next day. Expecting the worst, Monique was again surprised. “He asked how I was and again expressed concern. You people were all around me, and your kindness was killing me,” she says. “But it wasn’t killing me, it was killing my disease. I could not continue to hate and harm myself with this kind of love around me.”
Monique’s advice for anyone dealing with substance abuse: “I can’t tell you what will happen if you ‘be nice or else.’ I can only tell you what that gift did for me. It gave me the courage to take a leave of absence, check myself into detox, and kick heroin and cocaine. It was the scariest move I have ever made, followed by a close second when I walked back through the doors after getting clean. Once again, I was greeted with open arms. You never know how your kindness will affect another. It just might save a life. It saved mine.”
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Eating Disorders
Eating disorders involve extreme disturbances in eating behaviors: following rigid diets, secretly gorging on food, throwing up after meals, or obsessively counting calories. People with eating disorders eventually lose the ability to see themselves objectively; obsessions over food and weight dominate their lives. |
Josey Yingling, Class of 2009
Paul Mitchell The School – Phoenix
 Though Josey Yingling’s high school teachers felt she had potential and should attend college, the idea of becoming a hairstylist resonated with her the most. “I scouted schools in my hometown of Tucson, but they didn’t feel right,” Josey says. Then she discovered Paul Mitchell The School – Costa Mesa. “From the moment I walked in, it was where I wanted to be.”
Upon moving to California, Josey quickly lost a lot of weight. “I felt fine, I had all this energy, but a visit to the doctor showed that I had lost 30 pounds in about a month,” she says. “I had no idea there was anything wrong. It took my roommates and friends to save my life.” They alerted her mom, who took the next flight to California and sought immediate help for her daughter.
With support from her Paul Mitchell School, Josey took a leave of absence to attend an eating disorder outpatient treatment program. Two months later she returned to school, but within a few weeks her eating disorder regained control and she had to take another leave. She had gone from size 8 to size 0 in a month.
Josey moved back to Tucson and spent three months in inpatient treatment. Six months later, with continued loving support, she was ready to return to school. Fortunately, a Paul Mitchell School had opened in Phoenix, closer to her home, and she eagerly enrolled. She graduated in May 2009 and is now an assistant at a Phoenix salon.
“When I had to take that first leave of absence, I felt like I was failing in life,” Josey says. “Holding onto my dream kept me going and keeps me going now. My eating disorder is still a struggle; to keep me in recovery I accept support from my friends, family, and dietitian. My Paul Mitchell family was a big support as I went through this terrifying experience: everybody was so loving and nonjudgmental, and I always felt comfortable there. Once you start in the Paul Mitchell culture, you’re always family and welcomed back. I wouldn’t be as far along in my recovery if it wasn’t for them!”
Josey’s advice for anyone struggling with eating disorders:
- This disorder is not intentional nor is it about eating; it’s about control.
- Trust the people around you; they may recognize a problem before you see it yourself.
- If you see a friend or loved one losing weight or struggling, be patient, love them as much as you can, and encourage them to get immediate professional help.
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Domestic Violence and Abuse
Domestic (or spousal) abuse occurs when one person in a relationship tries to dominate and control the other. It can occur among heterosexual and same-sex partners of all ages, ethnicity, and financial levels, either during or after a relationship or breakup. Forms include physical, sexual, emotional, and economic or financial abuse. |
Michelle Kelly, Class of 2008
The Academy at Austin – A Paul Mitchell Partner School
Michelle Kelly started the esthetics program in April 2008 but quickly spiraled downward. Exhausted from working nights to help pay for school, she was also in an abusive relationship. “It was sad to attend beauty college with bruises on my face,” she says. On Mother’s Day, her husband left her for another woman. “One day while I was in school, he locked me out of my home,” she recalls. “I sent my children to live with family, and I lived in my car. I showered in the esthetics shower, cried myself to sleep every night, and prayed every morning in the school parking lot, thanking God for giving me another day there and asking for the strength to keep going.”
With help from the Andrew Gomez Foundation and a financial aid grant, Michelle eventually got into an apartment and out of her car. “The school owner was very supportive and the instructors were amazing support,” she says. Michelle worked hard, volunteered for everything, and excelled in her honors classes. She was the first in her esthetics class to graduate, finishing two months early with over 100% attendance.
Michelle now works at a salon and says, “I honestly feel like it is where I am supposed to be. I go there every morning and work very hard. Since this has started, I have not said no, and it has paid off. I have somehow found a way, and I will find a way.”
In her spare time, Michelle volunteers at a pregnancy crisis center where she recently spent a day giving free facials to all the employees. “It is now my goal to give back,” Michelle says. “I want to help other abused women know that they, too, can do it.”
Michelle’s advice for anyone dealing with domestic violence or abuse:
- Women in this situation think they’re isolated and they’re the only ones, but they’re not.
- There are so many people who are willing to help if you just let them. There is a light at the end of the tunnel.
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Self-Injury
Self-injury, self-inflicted violence, self-injurious behavior, and self-mutilation are deliberate, intentional injuries to one’s own body that cause tissue damage or leave marks for more than a few minutes. Self-injury is inflicted in an attempt to cope with an overwhelming or distressing situation. |
Zoe Feahr, Class of 2009
San Francisco Institute of Esthetics and Cosmetology –
A Paul Mitchell Partner School
 Zoe Feahr started showing signs of self-injury at age seven. “I would pull out my hair when I was stressed,” she recalls. In junior high, she started cutting her arms and legs, hiding it from teachers and everyone in her world. “It became pretty addictive for me and I engaged in it for a very long time, with brief periods of treatment when I was a later teenager. I’m 26 now and have struggled with it for a good 13 years.”
Although she rarely acts on it now, Zoe says, “I still have moments, especially when I’m feeling bad about myself or something that I did or didn’t do. Starting school at the San Francisco Institute of Esthetics and Cosmetology – A Paul Mitchell Partner School in January, I definitely encountered more stress than I had in a long time. The most challenging, triggering thing was getting my student kit. A lot of the items were things that I would have used to hurt myself: a box of razor blades, sharp objects. Learning to cope without taking it out on myself has definitely been a challenge. What’s helped me the most is having a strong support network, starting at school where I’m held accountable for who I am and who I’m trying to be.” Zoe’s support system includes her Learning Leaders. “I’ve let them know how to deal with me,” she says. “I know that if I want to talk to a Learning Leader, they won’t pass judgment or have an opinion.”
Zoe says she’s never felt so comfortable about exposing her physical scars before. “My arms are pretty much covered with layers of scar tissue,” she says. “Ninety percent of the people in the world outside of school aren’t so cool about it, but the accepting energy and atmosphere at our school has helped me get past a lot of that. Cutting is a hidden epidemic. The more it’s discussed in schools and peer groups, the easier it will be to deal with.”
Zoe’s advice for anyone struggling with self-injury:
- Let go of shame or judgment. Deciding that it doesn’t matter what people think has made me feel more secure about presenting myself.
- If you know someone who’s harming themselves, focus on what could be made positive about the situation.
- If someone is in a self-destructive state, try to distract them. Freaking out only makes them go back into their shells.
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Depression and Suicide
More than just the temporary “blues,” depression makes it tough to function and enjoy life. Although untreated depression can lead to suicide, most people who speak of suicide just want to stop their pain. If you think a friend or family member is considering suicide, encourage them to seek professional help immediately. |
Melissa Sederholm, Staff Member
Trend Setters College of Cosmetology – A Paul Mitchell Partner School
 With three children under age six and a husband working over 50 hours a week, stay-at-home mom Melissa Sederholm already had a huge job on her hands. When she found out she was expecting a fourth child in January 1998, she cried all the way home from the doctor’s office. Her husband quickly reassured her that they would manage somehow.
As the months passed, Melissa and her family were very happy. They chose the name Victoria Renea, and the children came to doctor’s appointments to hear their new sister’s heartbeat. During her six-month checkup, Melissa went into labor; the baby had no heartbeat and would not survive. She remembers passing out and waking up alone in a delivery room, where she held the lifeless little fetus for a few minutes. She went home the next day without having a funeral or baptizing Victoria Renea.
Over the next two years, Melissa suffered from depression, anxiety, and hallucinations. Sometimes she heard the baby crying and pretended she was there. “I remember not caring whether I lived or died, and waking up feeling so bad that I couldn’t get out of bed,” she says. Melissa’s job at a nursing home didn’t help matters, either. “I loved the job, loved the people, but I would get close to them and they would die.”
Eventually, hearing her children cry and ask what had happened to Mommy made Melissa seek treatment for her depression and anxiety. Then she took another giant step and joined the team at Trend Setters College of Cosmetology – A Paul Mitchell Partner School.
“Working at Trend Setters has affected me in such a positive way,” she says. “I have taken the culture home and included it in our daily lives. I love who I am today and I know this is where I belong. I love it when I see the Paul Mitchell culture and spirit come to life within our Future Professionals. I have seen many come in with such empty hearts and within those first few weeks of Core have such joy and smiles on their faces.”
Melissa’s advice for others dealing with depression or suicide: “Get involved, talk to people, and open your eyes to the unseen. The sad thing for me was that nobody knew what I was going through: not my husband, parents, sisters, or friends. Don’t be afraid to talk and discuss life. Life is real and it happens to every one of us.”
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Sexual Identity—Gay/Lesbian
Nearly all mainstream mental health experts now believe that sexual orientation forms before birth or within the first few years. While not everyone fits perfectly into one category, people attracted to the same sex might consider themselves gay or lesbian; people attracted to the opposite sex might consider themselves straight; and people who have some level of attraction to both sexes might consider themselves bisexual. |
Steve Penn, Class of 2009
Paul Mitchell The School – Orlando
 Growing up gay in a small Texas town was never easy for Steve Penn. Even as a child, he always felt different. “I had a strong attraction to my mother’s makeup table, and in middle school I hung out with the girls because the boys were too cruel,” Steve recalls. “I hoped things would look up in high school, but they didn’t. I wasn’t the all-star athlete my dad had hoped for, but the drama and band geek my mom had dreamed of. I was living in hell: the cruel names, glares from my classmates, stares at the market, and of course, looks of disappointment from my family.”
During his senior year, on a high school band trip to Disney World, Steve set his heart on becoming a performer there. By summer’s end, he landed a job, secured a place to live, and moved to Orlando where he worked at Disney World for the next three years. There, he discovered his makeup and acting abilities. “I spent a lot of time in the cosmetology department with friends who styled my wigs for work and helped me with my makeup,” he says. “After work, we’d spend hours putting makeup and wigs on me and making me look beautiful.” When his friends convinced him that he had a talent for female impersonation and cosmetology, Steve enrolled in Paul Mitchell The School – Orlando. “The minute I walked in the door, I knew it was where I needed to be,” he says. “The school creates the atmosphere of being an open home for everyone.”
 Steve also began working with Leigh Shannon, an internationally known character entertainer and wig shop owner who helped him get started as a professional female impersonator. “I started by impersonating Lady Gaga and am now the top Liza Minnelli impersonator in Orlando,” Steve says. “I’ve met wonderful people and friends in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community and I’ve found my mission in the world: to change the world’s perception of us one sequin at a time! My goal is to be an advocate for love, compassion, and acceptance.” Steve hopes to someday create a fun, relaxing, and enjoyable salon for all people, with no judgment or ugliness.
Steve’s advice for anyone dealing with sexual identity:
- Be yourself no matter what. Don’t let others influence you or make you feel different.
- If you live in an unaccepting environment, venture out and see what’s right for you. You don’t have to stay where you are.
- Be one who listens. That’s what happened at Paul Mitchell The School: people were willing to hear what I had to say and not be quick to judge.
- Favorite quote (from the movie 28 Days): “Don’t be someone else’s slogan because you are poetry.”
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Gender Identity
Gender identity is the gender with which a person identifies. In some cases, a person’s gender identity may be inconsistent with his or her biological sex characteristics. Transsexuals and transgender individuals identify with a physical sex that is different from their biological one. |
Kinley Preston, Class of 2010
Paul Mitchell The School – Chicago
 Raised in a small Nebraska town, Kinley Preston always felt different from the other boys. “I identified with girls and never related to anything stereotypically male,” Kinley says. “In my teenage years, I assumed that because I felt like a girl and liked boys, I was gay. The word transgender wasn’t even in my vocabulary.”
At college in Ohio, Kinley’s internal conflicts led to isolation, depression, and suicide attempts. “I moved back home and came out to my family, but because of a lack of family support, I ran.” Ending up on the streets of Dallas, Kinley turned to drug addiction as a way to cope and did unimaginable things to survive.
Life on the streets can be brutal, Kinley discovered. “The same people who hate you during the day try to pick you up at night. Along with constant verbal abuse, I’ve had my share of physical attacks, had friends murdered, and seen things no one should ever see. I knew that if I continued that way, I wouldn’t last much longer. After a year in Dallas, I called home and went back to Nebraska. After a five-year struggle with drinking, drugs, and depression, I decided to live and start my transition. I needed an education but knew I wouldn’t make it through college at that time. I was a drag performer in clubs, always doing hair and makeup, and figured the beauty industry would be safe and accepting. I didn’t think it would turn out to be this awesome!
“Just getting to and from school, I dealt with a lot of ugliness that sent me into depression but the culture and people at my school pulled me through with their acceptance and love. I still deal with these elements daily but my outlook is completely different now. I never saw much of a future for myself, but now the future is all I see and it’s exciting, great, and bright.”
Kinley serves as the Community Affairs and Transgender Representative for ChicagoPride.com, the Midwest’s largest online resource for the GLBT community. Her many goals include starting a nonprofit foundation to help homeless trans youth attend beauty school.
Kinley’s advice for anyone struggling with gender identity:
- Follow Winn Claybaugh’s advice and surround yourself with positive people and ideas.
- Never be afraid to seek help. No matter what you’re going through, others are going through the same thing.
- Open your eyes and heart and learn from people who are different than you.
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Each month we feature a new video made by a Paul Mitchell Future Professional. To have your video considered, post it on YouTube and send the link to George Morales (Gmorales562@aol.com). Please note: Videos that use unauthorized copyrighted music will not be considered for Video of the Month.
 Ten thousand Future Professionals took to the streets on October 14 for the Paul Mitchell Schools’ first nationwide Free Hugs Day. CLICK HERE and check out the event that generated millions of smiles and nonstop media attention!
For more videos from Free Hugs Day, visit YouTube and search for “Paul Mitchell Free Hugs”
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“One Size Fits All” T-Shirts
 
These shirts were designed and produced by the Paul Mitchell Schools AIDS Life/Cycle team. Proceeds benefit the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and the AIDS services of the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center.
Bold white lettering jumps off of these black, 100% cotton T-shirts. Available in men’s M, L, XL and women’s S, M, L.
$20.00
http://store.paulmitchell.edu
 Chase Community Giving Campaign
Twenty years ago, Paul Mitchell lost his battle with pancreatic cancer. Now you can make a difference. Log onto Facebook and vote for Pancreatic Cancer Action Network in the Chase Community Giving campaign to help the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network win $1 million! Round 1 voting ends December 11. Place your vote and tell your friends!
http://apps.facebook.com/chasecommunitygiving/charities/410627
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Paul Mitchell The School Newsletter
Copyright © 2009 by Paul Mitchell The School. All rights reserved.
Editor: Gail Fink
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