Raheem Alexander is a celebrity barber who is inspiring students at Murrell Dobbins Career and Technical Education High School in North Philadelphia one haircut at a time, reports Wakisha Bailey for CBS News Philadelphia.

Alexander spearheads Mustang Barbershop, a CTE program at the high school that teaches about hair and skin care, and prepares students to become licensed barbers. 

“This is the only school in the city of Philadelphia where you can get a haircut, you can get a meal and you can get some clothing,” said Alexander. 

Students enter the program during their sophomore year, and by the time graduation rolls around, they will have earned 1,250 hours toward obtaining their professional barber license.

That’s the kind of vision Michael Bell, a 15-year-old at Dobbins, has for himself. 

“I want to cut hair and make it out and make my mom proud,” he said. 

Alexander has been a barber for over 30 years, and has cut the hair of various Philadelphia icons, including Questlove of The Roots. 

The education he’s learned over the years has helped Alexander share more insight with his students. 

All in all, he encourages his students to earn the two documents — their high school diploma and professional barber license — to help set them on the right path.

Read more about Faheem Alexander’s inspiring endeavor in CBS News Philadelphia. 

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Editor’s Note: This post first appeared on PHILADELPHIA Today in January 2023.