Chicago Tonight: Black Voices
West Side Teen Goes Viral for School Bathroom Makeovers
Clip: 5/14/2025 | 3m 21sVideo has Closed Captions
A budding hair stylist in North Lawndale is transforming classmates' looks.
A North Lawndale student is styling her classmates hair — all from the girls' restroom. That small act of kindness is turning her into a viral social media star and a budding entrepreneur.
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Chicago Tonight: Black Voices is a local public television program presented by WTTW
Chicago Tonight: Black Voices
West Side Teen Goes Viral for School Bathroom Makeovers
Clip: 5/14/2025 | 3m 21sVideo has Closed Captions
A North Lawndale student is styling her classmates hair — all from the girls' restroom. That small act of kindness is turning her into a viral social media star and a budding entrepreneur.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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The costs of having their hair done.
North Lawndale students and budding hairstylist is cutting those costs by starling, her classmates, hair all from the girls restroom.
Now that small act of kindness is turning her into a viral social media star and also a budding entrepreneur.
>> Seventeen-year-old Jessica Thurman spends time between classes spring curling and combing her classmates hair to perfection.
The North Lawndale college prep junior posts or work on social media, taking pride in helping those who can't afford a professional stylist.
It feel good cause is shown that.
>> That they can trust me.
cut with ermine says she's been styling hair since she was 8 years old.
>> But she became a main event when one of her TikTok videos went viral.
Taking her pop-up salon from the girls restroom into the spotlight.
I starting land girl him to do here.
>> just random and try to do it close.
Yeah, we played wasn't light.
It wasn't That's why take it home.
Fix last year.
the U.S. Dollar School.
She loved it.
She to class an event Hedley perfect.
So what you just >> in books about 10 appointments a month and it's been the right style for her school community.
Jessica's act of kindness allowed for another young lady to smile.
Because now she doesn't have to worry about the bully or the like can I wear who cannot wear head?
>> She's alleviated some of those issues in my building.
I will be crazy not thank Thurmond is saving up to go to cosmetology school and hopes to open her own salon in the future are here in this community is our The current lanai is the flat irons.
The curlers, the hairspray.
It's very expensive.
So one of the things that she was just more focus on bike, I really want her family has even started a GoFundMe to help her chase her dreams and continue a family legacy rooted in hair.
My mom, she's started.
>> Harlow, hair business.
She wants to have school.
She was doing hair and the family.
When Jessica was I 3 is all she used to bring her into the wrong man and have her do her hair.
So Jessica Love doing had actually her practice on doing different staffs are air it also cuts hair his family.
His dad was also Barbara.
So I. Stallard hair and cutting hair.
>> giving her community a confidence boost one hairstyle at a time it's deal looks just good as >> the people charges are for these down south.
That's why I know it.
It makes a difference because they love to come to her.
They know they're going to get.
>> Good work and building a safe space for quick bathroom makeover.
>> No beauty school dropout there.
Jessica Thurman's
New Children's Book Encourages Kids to Speak Up
Video has Closed Captions
Clip: 5/14/2025 | 7m 3s | Writer Luvvie Ajayi Jones has become an expert on overcoming fears and speaking up. (7m 3s)
Under 'Crime-Free Housing' Laws, People Can Be Evicted for Minor Offenses
Video has Closed Captions
Clip: 5/14/2025 | 7m 44s | A new investigation reveals how in some Illinois cities, a simple 911 call can get renters evicted. (7m 44s)
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Chicago Tonight: Black Voices is a local public television program presented by WTTW