For nearly two decades, Courtney Harris has been a hair stylist in Columbus.
She’s seen various sides of the beauty industry, working at different salons within city limits, providing house calls and eventually starting her own small business.
For the last five years, Harris has operated her own salon, titled IAMCOURTNEY LLC, in Columbus. She is the only employee, offering what she describes as intimate one-on-one haircut appointments inside the salon.
After taking an extended period away from the salon from a combination of COVID-19-mandated restrictions and maternal leave after she recently had a baby, Harris returned to her business just a few weeks ago. Returning to work in the middle of a pandemic wasn’t too odd, Harris said, because she had already subscribed to a rigorous cleaning and disinfecting policy long before the pandemic came to the United States. Plus, only one other person is in the salon with Harris at a given time.
“I never had a lot of people in the salon,” said Harris, a professional stylist in the Golden Triangle for the last 17 years. “Only one at a time. But some people are waiting to return to the salon. Because I used to provide services such as house calls, I’m still offering those now.”
Recently, something equally as important to Harris as her business has been on her mind, though.
Just as Harris has a passion for beauty, she shares an equal thirst for providing supplies for college students. So she felt compelled to take action. After seeing countless K-12 education drives over the years, Harris didn’t want students seeking higher education to feel left out.
For the second straight year, Harris will host a back-to-college drive on Aug. 1 from 1-4 p.m. at her salon located at 2103 Fourth Ave. North in Columbus. Voting registration will also be offered, along with a raffle for a 32-inch television.
“Last year we decided to have a back-to-college drive and it was very successful,” Harris said. “Sometimes we forget about the college students and the young adults. We have the back-to-school drives for middle school and elementary, so I didn’t want to forget about those young adults that need household necessities, cleaning supplies and non-perishable items.”
Donated items include non-perishable food, cleaning supplies, disinfectants, hygiene products, bed sheets and gift cards. College students can request essentials online at a student registry online at bit.ly/backtocollegedrive.
Last year, the drive partnered with a nonprofit organization. This year, the drive is funded solely through donations from sponsors and community efforts from people dropping off items as well as monetary donations.
“I have a senior at Rust College (in Holly Springs),” Harris said. “I’ve always been a hands-on mom, from kindergarten to college. But I know there are some young adults that don’t have the same support as my son did.”
One feature Harris added this year was inviting motivational speakers. Scheduled speakers include Columbus High 2019 valedictorian Marian Elise Turner, Pioneer Historian Ezra Baker and artist/activist David Horton II.
“We have three special guests attending this year,” Harris said. “They will give encouragement to the students as well as pass out those essential items.”
She encouraged any community member who wishes to sponsor the event to contact her online via Facebook or directly at 662-889-9385.
Hodge is the former sports editor for The Dispatch.
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