‘The youth is the future’: See how this new organization gives back to Macon, its students

Myracle Lewis
·3 min read

Ramaiya Richards, a Macon native, had a full circle moment last week when she walked along the same hallways of Westside High School where she graduated five years ago, but this time with beauty supplies in hand and a desire to give back.

From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on March 26, Richards and her peers gave free haircuts and hairstyles to Bibb County students through her newfound Ryimagine project.

“I wanted to do it back in the school system because I love kids,” she said. “The youth is the future. We got to help the youth by building them because they are the next doctors, teachers and lawyers.”

Ryimagine is a new project comprised of Bibb County’s young entrepreneurs who use their talents to give back to the community.
Ryimagine is a new project comprised of Bibb County’s young entrepreneurs who use their talents to give back to the community.

Richards, 22, said she has been fulfilling a longtime passion of styling hair since she was 17 years old. But the concept for Ryimagine came from another one of her passions: helping people.

“I love helping people out. I’ve always been that way. I grew up that way with my family. We always help anybody who needs anything,” she said.

Richards graduated from the University of West Georgia in 2023 with a degree in social and behavioral health. She said she immediately fell in love with the social work field after switching from being a nurse major. Ryimagine solved Richards’ dilemma of blending her passions for community service and cosmetology.

Ryimagine is a new project comprised of Bibb County’s young entrepreneurs who use their talents to give back to the community.
Ryimagine is a new project comprised of Bibb County’s young entrepreneurs who use their talents to give back to the community.

It did not take long to assemble a crew. Richards said she contacted several local entrepreneurs to come together and do something big for the community.

Ryimagine doesn’t stop at giving fresh hairstyles. The crew also offered the students free mini facials, skincare education and karaoke sessions. Richards is currently working to collect donated prom dresses and distribute them throughout Macon-Bibb.

Ryimagine is a new project comprised of Bibb County’s young entrepreneurs who use their talents to give back to the community.
Ryimagine is a new project comprised of Bibb County’s young entrepreneurs who use their talents to give back to the community.

Richards said she expected people would support Ryimagine, but she didn’t anticipate it to take off in just a week. One of her Facebook posts received roughly 900 likes and more than 300 shares.

“So many kids have been DMing me and asking me to come back and to visit their schools,” Richards said. “I’m loving that they’re loving it.”

Richards said she takes pride in being the big sister of her family and is willing to take on the responsibility of becoming a mentor and big sister for Bibb County.

Ryimagine is a new project comprised of Bibb County’s young entrepreneurs who use their talents to give back to the community.
Ryimagine is a new project comprised of Bibb County’s young entrepreneurs who use their talents to give back to the community.

“Now I’m working to bring back the Big Sister Big Brother program at Westside because the kids need it,” she said. “A lot of them don’t have nobody. It be the simplest things that they want - simple things that we as people don’t really appreciate and realize that others need.”

Ryimagine plans to visit Bruce Elementary and SOAR Academy next week, said Richards. She said she hopes to make an impact throughout the Bibb County School District and spread the project beyond the Macon-Bibb area.

“It’s growing. I’m excited for the growth,” she said. “I started kind of late in the semester, but it’s on and poppin’ for next school year. We’re ready,” she said.

All local entrepreneurs are welcomed to join the Ryimagine crew and provide services ranging from talents to clothing donations, Richards said.

Ryimagine is a new project comprised of Bibb County’s young entrepreneurs who use their talents to give back to the community.
Ryimagine is a new project comprised of Bibb County’s young entrepreneurs who use their talents to give back to the community.

“Anything to help the kids. The kids will love whatever,” she added. “My motto for this is to start changing lives everyday. “I just want to be somebody that the kids remember. I want them to take what I’m doing as an example and pass it along to help the next person.”

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