Visionary Youth
About Visionary Youth
Visionary Youth meets Lincoln youth and families where they already are, with free haircuts, backpacks, holiday food and toy giveaways, and mentoring that includes tutoring and counseling. The work is built for underprivileged and at-risk individuals and families, especially low-income, minority, and racially and economically diverse communities in Lincoln. If you want to support something that covers both immediate needs and longer-term support, this is that kind of organization.
What sets Visionary Youth apart is how familiar the setting feels. Barbers, therapists, and community partners work together through barbershop-based mentoring, licensed counseling, and recurring basic-needs events, so support shows up in a place families already know. Its MIND program takes that even further with a customized mobile barbershop built for youth support.
Programs
The concrete work this nonprofit runs. Each program may later become a fundable project.
Back to School Free Haircut & Backpack Event
An annual event where youth receive free haircuts, backpacks with school supplies, socks, and underwear, along with a family street fair with food, games, and entertainment.
Community Holiday Food Giveaway
A November event that provides a full Thanksgiving meal package, including a turkey and fixings for a family of five, along with socks, underwear, winter coats, hats, and gloves.
Holiday Toy Giveaway
A December event where parents receive free gifts for their children, along with socks, underwear, winter coats, hats, and gloves.
Mentoring in New Dimensions (MIND)
A barbershop mentoring and peer group counseling program that offers one-on-one mentoring, group counseling, and support from trained barber mentors and licensed therapists.
Community hub
A central gathering space where youth and families can access information on resources and services, participate in educational programs, receive tutoring, and access counseling through network therapists.
About this work
In their own words — what they do, who it reaches, and what your dollars actually fund.
Mission
Visionary Youth's mission is to support and educate underprivileged and at-risk individuals and families by providing gifts, monetary support, mentoring services, and opportunities for vocational development and growth.
Who they serve
Underserved and underrepresented youth and families, especially low-income youth, minority youth, and racially and economically diverse youth and families in Lincoln.
Their impact
- The Back to School Free Haircut and Backpack Event grew from serving 75 youth to 1,250 youth each year.
- The holiday events have served 700 to 1,200 families each year.
- Visionary Youth has served over 3,000 young people and their families with free haircuts, school supplies, personal hygiene and basic needs items, family events, gifts at Christmas, and informal mentorship.
- People helped 13,500.
How your donation helps
- Basic needs items for youth
- Events for young people and their families
- Free haircuts
- Backpacks and school supplies
- Meals and holiday food packages
- Mentors and support for the MIND program
- Gifts for children at Christmas
- Educational opportunities
Our story
Visionary Youth began in 2012 when Kwabena (KB) Mensah, owner of Oasis Barbershops in Lincoln, and Dr. Lawrence Chatters, a clinical therapist and psychologist, organized work rooted in the barbershop environment. The idea was simple and practical, bring culturally relevant, accessible programming to youth and families who needed it. It started with the First Annual Free Haircut and Backpack Event, added holiday food and gift giveaways in 2018, launched the Mentoring in New Dimensions program in 2019, purchased the MIND Mobile Barbershop in 2021, and began full implementation in 2022.
Need help?
How someone in need can access Visionary Youth’s services.
Youth and families can participate in the annual Back to School Free Haircut & Backpack Event, the Community Holiday Food Giveaway, and the Holiday Gift Giveaway. Youth who need mentoring can join the 10-week MIND program through partner organizations that serve racially and economically diverse youth.
In their words
You'd be surprised at how far we can stretch a dollar.
GIVING IS A POWERFUL WAY OF SHOWING THAT YOU CARE
Events
Back to School Free Haircut & Backpack Event
annualAn annual August event that provides free haircuts, backpacks, school supplies, and a family street fair.
Community Holiday Food Giveaway
annualAn annual November event that provides Thanksgiving meal packages and basic needs items for families.
Holiday Gift Giveaway
annualAn annual December event that provides gifts for children and basic needs items for families.
Stuff the Backpacks
annualA volunteer event that prepares backpacks for the back-to-school program.
Ways to help
Concrete needs and volunteer roles Visionary Youth has shared.
Current needs
- New quality backpacks for ages 5 to 19
- School supplies
- New socks and underwear
- Winter coats
- Hats and gloves
Volunteer opportunities
- Stuff the Backpacks Event volunteers
- Back to School Free Haircut & Backpack Event volunteers
- Volunteer barbers and stylists
- Barber mentors for the MIND program
- Licensed therapists for the MIND program
Recognition & press
In the media
- KLKN-TV, feature on the launch of a cutting-edge mentoring program in Lincoln
- 3 News Now, feature on the mobile barbershop mentoring and counseling space in Lincoln
- 10/11 NOW, feature on the first graduates of the MIND program
- Nebraska Public Media, video feature on the MIND mobile barbershop
Partners & funders
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about this nonprofit and how its work happens.
What does the MIND program include?
MIND includes one-on-one mentoring from barber mentors and group counseling sessions with peers and licensed therapists in a local barbershop setting.
What do families receive at the back-to-school event?
Youth receive a free haircut, a backpack full of school supplies, socks, and underwear, and families can take part in a safe street fair with food, games, and entertainment.
What is included in the holiday food giveaway?
Families receive a full Thanksgiving meal package with a turkey and all the fixings for a family of five, along with socks, underwear, and winter coats, hats, and gloves.
What is included in the holiday gift giveaway?
Parents receive free gifts for their children, along with socks, underwear, winter coats, hats, and gloves.
What kinds of organizations can participate in MIND?
MIND is offered with organizations that serve racially and economically diverse youth.
Similar nonprofits
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