CHICAGO, Feb. 14, 2020 — Known for their 100% college acceptance rate each year, Urban Prep Academies is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that operates three open enrollment public charter high schools in high-need communities in the city of Chicago. The donation from Bevel, a Walker & Company Brand, will cover the costs of college tours, college application fees, and college test prep fees for the classes of 2020 and 2021.
Announced at an Urban Prep campus during the lead-up to All-Star weekend, students were treated to a panel discussion about the path to success featuring actor/singer Jacob Latimore (Showtime’s The Chi), NBA player Kendrick Nunn (Miami Heat), and Radio Personality Kendra G. (WGCI-FM).
The partnership resonates on a personal level for Bevel Founder and CEO Tristan Walker. Raised by a single mother in Queens, NY, Walker knows firsthand how having access to a great education can set Black boys on the path to becoming successful Black men.
“[My Mother] did everything she could to ensure that I was set up for success and had the education that I needed. Through education, I got to see how the other half lived. It completely changed my life. I got to see what success could look like…and it completely changed my worldview.“
Intimately familiar with the lack of representation within the beauty industry, Walker launched Bevel to create the products and tools that were specifically designed and tailored for textured hair and melanin-enriched skin. Founded in 2013, the company began with a focus on shaving: precise cuts, trims, and lineups without the skin irritation. The brand has since expanded into hair, skin and body, providing head to toe grooming solutions for black men.