NAACP, Handy Foundation & Netflix Partner to Train BIPOC Hair & Makeup Artists

Committed to increasing diverse representation in the entertainment industry, the NAACP and, the Handy Foundation, have partnered to announce the return of the NAACP x Handy Foundation Glam Squad Training Program. With the support of Netflix, the NAACP and the Handy Foundation will expand the program to two different editions this year. 

“We have always been driven by a mission to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion – on and off screen. Now more than ever, we see a clear need for underrepresented creatives in this industry.” said Kyle Bowser, Senior Vice President of the NAACP Hollywood Bureau. “We are proud to partner with Netflix and Handy Foundation in this fight to make a tangible impact in creating more access points for up and coming artists.”

The NAACP x Handy Foundation Glam Squad Training Program aims to train ten aspiring BIPOC Hair and Makeup artists and provide them with the necessary skills for opportunities to work on film and television sets. During their rigorous 7-week program, trainees will learn specialized training for various skin tones and techniques, special EFX, work on mock photo shoots, gain hands-on experience working at the state-of-the-art NAACP+ Studios and  gain insight from tenured industry professionals including; Quintessence Patterson, Key Make Up Artist Starz’s BMF; Moe Coles, Key Hair Artist; Camille Friend, Oscar Nominated and NAACP Image Award Winner; Danielle Milton, Founder/CEO, The Milton Agency; Kali Patrice, Multihyphenate hairstylist and creator of  STYLE LIKE A BOSS; and Carol Rasheed, Image Award-Winning Makeup Department Head for The Color Purple.

The first edition of this program launches in April and after weeks of thorough internal assessments, ten individuals were selected from a highly competitive applicant pool. The 2024 Spring Cohort participants are Chanice Williams, Jennifer Cormack, Kalia White, Rashima Wilson, Alyndy Chavez, Rocket Minjizzle, Jeannee Primm, Dominique Henson, Summer Stephens and Ainya Carter. 

Training this year’s cohorts will be Keshia Smith, a seasoned holistic makeup artist with over 20 years of experience. Smith has worked with renowned brands such as Nars Cosmetics, MAC Cosmetics, Smashbox and more. Smith was chosen to spearhead this initiative, due to her impactful work with projects for Target’s Black History Month venture and Dove’s Crown Act campaign.

Ri-Karlo Handy, Founder of the Handy Foundation said, “Actors and performers come from diverse backgrounds with unique needs and require beauty professionals to have experience in servicing different hairstyles, textures and skin tones. The Handy Foundation is honored to partner with the NAACP and Netflix on this initiative. It will be a game changer for performers and the next generation of beauty professionals alike.”

The support from Netflix for the NAACP x Handy Foundation Glam Squad Training Program is part of the company’s Fund for Creative Equity, a dedicated effort to help build new opportunities for underrepresented communities within entertainment.which is designed to build new pathways for underrepresented communities within entertainment.

Tiffany Burrell-Lewis, Director of Creative Talent Development, Netflix, said: “Hair and makeup artists are pivotal to bringing stories to life on screen, and it’s a privilege to support NAACP and the Handy Foundation as they continue to pave the way for a new generation of talent focused on this craft.”

At the program’s completion, one or more participants will have an opportunity to work as a production assistant in the hair and makeup department for an industry partner. In 2023, several members of the first cohort were contracted as hair and makeup stylists on several NAACP+ Studios projects including the NAACP Image Awards, NAACP Virtual Award show and the NAACP convention.

Source: Netflix