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Antoine Carey launched Faded & Co. and the F.A.D.E.D. Foundation as a second-chance advocacy organization. [Courtesy photo]
Since 2014, Antoine Carey has been aiming to provide redemption and purpose.

“I earned my barber license while incarcerated at Haynesville Correctional Center. That program changed my life — it gave me more than just a trade; it gave me a vision of who I could become,” Carey said. “When I was released in 2014, I didn’t just walk out with a record — I walked out with a barber license and a new sense of direction.”

Carey, founder and owner of Faded & Co. Barbershop and CEO of the F.A.D.E.D. Foundation in Fredericksburg, was inspired by his own story to begin a home for second-chance advocacy for those released from incarceration.

“I didn’t read about the system — I lived through it. I know what it feels like to be counted out, to walk through life with a label that makes people look at you sideways before they hear your name. But I also know what it feels like to find purpose, to earn a skill and to rebuild your life one day at a time,” Carey said. “… I saw firsthand how a trade could restore dignity, how mentorship could change your mindset, and how someone believing in you could shift everything.”

The founder said he specifically chose barbering as the vocational focus because the skills learned in the trade extend further than the chair.

“Beyond the clippers and fades, barbering teaches discipline, communication and consistency. It turns clients into conversations, and chairs into counseling sessions,” Carey said. “It’s a career with dignity; one that allows people to rebuild not only their own lives, but also uplift others along the way.”

Following the opening of the barbershop in 2016, Carey decided to launch a new aspect of Faded: a nonprofit and barbershop academy, which would offer scholarships, barber kits and mentorship, in 2020.

“When I came home and opened Faded & Co., I knew it had to be more than a barbershop. It had to be a safe space — a launchpad for others walking the same path I did. Starting the F.A.D.E.D Foundation was about giving structure to that mission: creating real opportunities for returning citizens to thrive, not just survive,” Carey said.

Carey said F.A.D.E.D. provides full or partial scholarships for tuition, professional barber kits, mentorship and life coaching, job readiness training, transportation assistance, community engagement opportunities and mental health/emotional support referrals.

The academy has three tiers, all of which are approved by the Commonwealth’s Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation. The academy tiers include the Barber I program, which requires 1,100 hours of school training; the Master Barber program, which requires an additional 400 hours of school training, and people are eligible following the Barber I program; and the Dual Barber/Master Barber program, which is a 1,500-hour program.

“The program is designed not just to teach a trade, but to transform a life. We focus on accountability, consistency, and connection. Graduates don’t just leave with a license; they leave with a renewed mindset, a support system and the tools to thrive as professionals and contributors to their community,” Carey said.

A graduate from the program, who chose to stay anonymous, said they were not expecting to learn as much as they did from the academy.

“Initially, I expected to just learn how to complete a haircut from beginning to end. Over time, I realized that I needed to have patience with myself and to trust that everything I’d encounter was a part of the process to professionalism, as I learned everything about barbering from the history, chemistry, safety and laws of barbering,” they said.

The graduate said they had to learn to “get out of their own way” to allow themselves to grow while going through the program; but, ultimately, they learned this is an important way to invest in your future.

“Don’t hesitate to invest in yourself and take a chance at a life-changing opportunity that will help you build character, confidence and a purposeful position that will grant you great fulfillment through the action of satisfying others’ needs,” he said.

Carey said he wished more people understood that formerly incarcerated individuals are not lost causes, and this is oftentimes their first fair shot in life.

“They grew up in broken systems, faced trauma early, lacked access to education or were surrounded by environments that pushed survival over success,” Carey acknowledged. “But that doesn’t mean they’re beyond redemption. What they need isn’t judgment — it’s opportunity, guidance and belief.

“They’re not hopeless. They’re hungry. Hungry for change, for stability, for purpose,” Carey continued. “And when we meet them with that understanding, we don’t just change their lives — we change the world around them.”

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Dominick speaks at the Prince William Board of County Supervisors meeting.

Willing Warriors, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting recovering service members and their families, will hold a community-wide event this spring to celebrate a decade of healing and hope.

The organization will mark its 10-year anniversary with a celebration on Monday, May 26, 2025, at 11 a.m. at the Warrior Retreat at Bull Run near Haymarket. The retreat provides free, week-long stays for wounded service members and their families, offering them rest, reconnection, and recovery in a peaceful setting.

Since opening its doors in 2015, the Warrior Retreat has hosted nearly 2,700 warriors and their loved ones, helping to restore hope, rebuild relationships, and provide a supportive environment for healing.

“We’ve seen lives changed, marriages saved, and families restored,” said Shirley Dominick, founder of Willing Warriors. “When warriors arrive on Friday, they are often tired and discouraged. When they leave, they are smiling, hopeful, and ready to move forward.”

Dominick accepted a proclamation from the Prince William Board of County Supervisors on Tuesday, March 18, recognizing March 16–22, 2025, as Women Veterans Week and honoring the contributions of women who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. During the ceremony, she reflected on the vital role the community has played in the retreat’s success.

“It is you—this community—that made all of this possible,” she told the board. “Your financial support, your volunteer hours, your belief in our mission—it has all helped us serve our nation’s heroes in a meaningful way.”

Gainesville District Supervisor Bob Weir read the proclamation, noting that women veterans are the fastest-growing segment of the veteran population, with many calling Prince William County home.

Sarah Ford, Executive Director of Willing Warriors, encouraged residents to attend the May 26 event. “This anniversary isn’t just about us—it’s about what this community has done together,” Ford said. “We want everyone to come out, celebrate, and be part of the next chapter.”

Willing Warriors continues to offer no-cost stays for service members recovering from both physical and invisible wounds, supported by a network of volunteers, donors, and local partners. The retreat includes private suites, accessible amenities, and access to nearby medical facilities and outdoor activities.

For more information about the anniversary event or to support Willing Warriors, visit willingwarriors.org.

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Bethea [Submitted photo]
Hire Heroes USA, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting veterans and military spouses in their transition to meaningful civilian employment, is leaving a significant mark on communities like Woodbridge.

The organization provides free, comprehensive assistance beyond securing a job through tailored programs and services, offering veterans and military spouses the tools and guidance needed to thrive in their new careers.

Since its inception, Hire Heroes USA has celebrated over 100,000 job placements and confirmed hires—a testament to its transformative impact. "Each hire is more than a statistic—it represents a life change, a family stabilized, and a community strengthened. This is the heart of our mission," said Ross Dickman, the organization’s CEO.

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Habitat for Humanity in Prince William County, under the interim leadership of Steve Liga, is recalibrating its mission to tackle the unique challenges of expensive real estate and a community need for home repairs rather than new builds.

Liga, who stepped in as the interim director, detailed how his experience with other nonprofits led him to this role. He explained his immediate focus on stabilizing the organization's financial footing and reconnecting with the community after a slow period exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic.

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The Zoe Freedom Center is gearing up for its fourth annual 5K run, a fundraising event supporting its mission to assist those struggling with addiction. The event on Aug. 24, 2024, will begin and end at the University of Mary Washington’s  Jepson Alumni Executive Center, with participants running a course that stretches to the halfway point near Lafayette and Blue & Gray Parkway before looping back.

Founded by Dana and Mark Brown in March 2020, the Zoe Freedom Center launched the same day widespread shutdowns were announced for the COVID-19 pandemic. "We were surprised by the happenings, but we knew we were called to open this organization," said Dana, “It proved to be the perfect time to open.” As other addiction services were forced to close or transition to virtual operations, the Zoe Freedom Center remained an in-person resource for those in need.

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