ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Combining social work and a passion for cosmetology, the first nonprofit cosmetology school in the nation dedicated to helping survivors of sex trafficking is opening its doors in Rochester.
Miss Julie’s School of Beauty founder and executive director Julie Chapus never imagined her passion for beauty would lead to saving the lives of others.
“We have depended on systems far too long that were never designed or intended to help people succeed,” Chapus said. “Recently, the government shutdown just showed us that even the smallest disruption can pull away the only lifeline some individuals have.”
Combining a passion for cosmetology and social work. Chapus has worked endlessly to raise funds for a one-of-a-kind school, Miss Julie’s School of Beauty, and now is celebrating its grand opening.
“It gives them economic opportunity,” Rep. Joe Morelle said. “But again, more than that, the real purpose in their lives and the belief that other people care about them is that it takes a village. So sometimes the truest things are the most simple things.”
On its website, Miss Julie’s School of Beauty touts itself as the only organization in New York state offering a complete pathway to permanently escape sex trafficking.
“When you have that history of a drug possession or a prostitution record, the only jobs that were available were minimum wage, unskilled,” Chapus said. “And that was just a cycle that I saw over and over our people going back to illegal activities and back to things that were making that money, because there was no legal opportunity for them to actually get a living wage.”
They work to break boundaries and provide opportunities.
“I realized if this is going to happen, I have to be the one to do it,” Chapus said. “And so I went on a 10-year journey to make this happen.”
Chapus is making sure her students’ past doesn’t stop them from creating a beautiful future.
“You’re changing the world from the individuals around you and your neighbors and your community,” Monroe County Executive Adam Bello said. “And that’s truly what you’ve done here with the school, if you’ve changed the world.”